Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1876 — An Aquarium for Anybody. [ARTICLE]

An Aquarium for Anybody.

It may be that the only available receptacle for the aquarium is a large glass pickle jar, or a jar such as confectioners use,or even a finger-glass. Well! more living organisms than one observer could well describe in a year mav grow, and live, and flourish in the -smallest of these vessels, especially if attention be paid to the mioroßCopic inhabitants of the water, whose name is legion. In dirty situations and in smoky towns it will generally be ncoeesary to cover the topofthe aquarium with a piece of glass or imuslin to keep out the “ blacks.” The .first thing to be done in the formation of a fresh-water' aquarinm is, if possible, to establish the plants—do,place them in suitable soil at the bottom of your tank, and leave them undisturbed exposed to the light, under the water, until they begin to grow, and the little active bubbles of oxygen are Been rising to the surface of i the water. We have grown Valisneria spirals, water crowfoot, the starworts, the various species of Chara and the Canadian waterweed (Anacharis alsinastrum) in profusion. The soil best to plant-such in as have roots is clean river-sand mixed with pebbles. Such plants as Conferva; and others which float on the water and do not take iroeff in the soil «Io not,> of course, require .planting. After tchoosing your plants from, such as you mqy collect from rivers and,ponds in any country .ramble, plant them, and cover the f-surfcace of the grounds with bits of rock,, pebbles, or anythingithat is suitable and in harmony with the rest of the arrangements. Do not put into ■& fresh-water aquarium, or artificial objects where all should be natural. Then fill the vessel with water very carefully through a funnel or siphon, so as not to disturb the soil and the roots of your plants.— Chambers' Journal.