MOST aquariums may be safely filled with tap-
water, provided it
has not been
drawn from a
copper
cylinder or through a copper piping,
this can be poisonous.
The need for 'safe' water
is described fully
under the chapter of that heading.
Since the sand and rock work has been set, there is the
need to pour in water carefully so as
not to disrupts the artistic setting built up. There
are three good ways to fill the aquarium. The first is by placing a saucer on the sand or
gravel near the front. Place a clean jar on the saucer. Then, aiming carefully, slowly
pour water from
the jug into
the jar which falls rapidly and spills into the saucer (which breaks the fall), and trickles
over the edge. You can then pour the
water more rapidly as the
curved lip of the saucer
directs the stream of water
upwards and not a grain of sand needs be disturbed. An alternative way to fill the tank is to put a
bucket of water on a board
supported by the edges of tank -these) and to let the water
run into the tank through a rubber siphon tube about 1cm (1/8 inch)
in diameter.
In order to avoid
stirring up the bottom soil and sand, place the outflow end of the hosepipe against
the side of the
glass to help the first depth of water to run in without turning the whole tank into a mud puddle.
The more quietly this is done, the better.
When the depth of water is up to 5-cm (2-inch) in the tank,
the outflow end of the tube can then be unturned so as
to direct the stream of water up(see wards. The fastest way
to fill a tank,
especially the large ones,
is to spread a double
sheet of newspaper on the sand pour directly
on to the paper. The
paper rises continuously with the level
of
water, thus absorbing the impact that would otherwise have stirred
up the bottom soil
When putting in rootless plants in bunches,
the method explained above
is repeated, but this time the lower
ends of the stems
are placed together
and treated exactly
as if they were roots.
