The dictionary of daily wants / [Robert Kemp Philp].

Robert Kemp Philp

Date:: [1861]

Credit: The dictionary of daily wants / [Robert Kemp Philp]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

57/1152 page 47

$ratings functions upon animal life. Tliis carbonic acid gas is the Ibod of plants. Thus ivhat would prove fatal to animal life if not withdrawn is the very support of vegetable life. But both plants and animals die When the latter cease to breathe, it is easy to remove their bodies from any receptacle so much under obsei-vation as the aquarium. But a certain portion of its vegetiible occu- pants are always dying. Hence the neces- sity for the int-oduction of an agent, whose proper occupation it is to remove all such decaying matters, whose food in short is putrefaction. An aquarium, then, is a little world of animal and vegetable life. For its due regulation, althou^i no infallible rule can be given, careful observation joined to experience win ever prove the best guide, the following particulars are to be attended to'fhe form of the tank is immaterial. Tlie familiar fish-bowl of past years mil do, and no additional expense in that direction need necasarily be incurred. The tank, or bowl, must be quite clean. Where this is circular, and made entirely of glass, there is little risk; but when the tank is formed, as u.«ual, ot four sides and a base, care must bo taken that no poisonous emanations from putty or paint, or any other metallic sub- stance, be present. To avoid this, the water, which may be either river ivater, rain water, or pump water, that has not been boiled, must be putiiito the tank some time previous to the introduction of the plant. It after standing lor a few days no prismatic scum appears upon the surface of the water, it is a proof that it is sufhciently clean. The plants proper for an aquarium will live and flourish without mould or gravel. Mliere these are admitted they should be 80 disposed that while tliey form a rest or anchorage for the plants, they do not inter- fere with the purity of the water. Shells and rockwqrk are to be admitted subject to the conditions of cleanliness and freedom from metallic taint, which may easily iii- trode in the form of cement. The directions above given with reference to the jointing of the tank must therefore be followed, and the whole framework be carefully washed. It is hardly necessary to remark that marine shells should find no place in a fresh water aquarium, or fresh water adjuncts in one intended solely for marine animals and algae. Light is necessary to the healthy growth of plants; and although both animal and vegetable life may exist for some time with- out it, neither will flourish or perform their several functions pi’operly in the dark. The amount of solar light admitted to an aquarium should be regulated by the con- sideration of how much is usually received into a pond. In short, the aim should be to afford the same proportion of the sun’s rays as the plants and animals have been accustomed to in their natural habitations. It will be obvious to every observer that the surface of any artificial water receptacle is unnaturally calm. Hence the water in such receptacles is devoid to a certain extent of the proper amount of air. Tlie ■wind that sweeps over the face of a lake or pond, while it agitates that face, carries into the water fresh globules of air, thus conveying the vital oxygen to its inhabitants. This aerating process should be occasionally imi- tated by means of a pair of hand beUows, to the nose of wliich a tube of gutta percha has been affixed. Where a fountain can be attached to an aquarium, the necessity for any other mode of aeration is obviated. With respect to the tenants of the aqua- rium, as the stores of nature are ine.x- haustible it is impossible to give a complete list of them within anything like limited space. For a fresh water aquarium the most common plants are :— The Great Water Plantain {Alisma), The Water Lily {Xymphea Alba). The Yellow Water Lily (Nuphar Lutea). The Forget-me-Not (Myosotis Palustris). The Frogbit {^Hydrocharis Morsus Rani). The Valisueria (Valisneria Spiralis). The Arrowhead {SagiUaria Sagittifolia). The Water Iris {Iris Pseudocorus). The Water Aloe (Stratiotes Aloides). The Animals. — ffoW Fish.— (2.) Perch, {Cyprinus Auratus) Tench, Koach, Gudgeon, Sticklebacks. f3.) Minnows. (I.) Tlie Mollnsca; (who act as the scavengers of the establishment), are$

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