水池与房间
水池：大小、深度与高度
大到靠运气不行，高度又不至于伤腰。
水池是其他一切的舞台。太小，动物只要与池壁保持固定距离绕圈游就能找到平台。太大，动物和伸手救援的人都会更吃力。原watermaze.org对此有两个部分，至今仍然适用。
The Pool
The Morris water maze consists of a round tank (pool) of water. We think that 6ft (1.8m) to 2m diameter is good. We think that a 2 ft (0.6m) deep pool is good, with 1 ft (0.3m) of water. For mice 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m) diameter is good, and the same 2ft deep. We think that is good to place the pool on a 1-2ft base, to make working more convenient. The escape platform can be 4ins (10cms) in diameter. The platform should not be too close to the side, or the subject finds it just by circling around the pool-side. For rats the platform can be 1/4 in below the water. For mice it should be very close to the surface.
We are told that a good water temperature for rats is 26 deg C ±2 deg. Colder encourages activity, but can cause hypothermia, which impairs learning.
原文（英文）：watermaze.org Part I, General Information。出自Richard Baker的原始资料。按原样转载，未作改动。Copyright Richard Baker© 2013. All Rights Reserved.
Size of pool & platform?
These are a matter of personal choice. One criterion, which sounds logical, is that the task should not be so easy that it can be achieved mostly by chance. I.e. the pool should not be too small, nor the platform too big. Also if the pool is too small, the platform might be close to the sidewall. In that case, just swimming around at a fixed distance from the sidewall will find the platform quickly. For adult rats a pool diameter if 1.8m (6ft) may be good, with a 10cms (4 ins) diameter platform. Depth ~ 60cms (2 ft). In the US we supply pools 4, 5 or 6ft diameter, 2 ft deep, with a 1ft water-depth. For mice a pool diameter of 1m to 1.5m is used, with platform diameter 5cms to 10 cms. Pool height ~30 cms, water depth ~ 25cms works. Mice are very aware of the room & operator, and a sidewall above water level could help block the line of sight. With all animals, it is vital that they can see the cues (on the lab walls), from the vicinity of the platform - otherwise they can't orientate. Nearly all labs use round platforms - this sounds good, as there is no preferred direction for approach. A few use square platforms - please note that HVS Water software is designed for round platforms.
原文（英文）：watermaze.org Part I, General Information。出自Richard Baker的原始资料。按原样转载，未作改动。Copyright Richard Baker© 2013. All Rights Reserved.
请注意，两个部分对大鼠的看法一致（直径约1.8 m），但对小鼠给出了不同的数字。第一部分建议1.5到1.8 m；后来的“Size of pool & platform?”笔记则说使用的是1 m到1.5 m。这里两者都按原文保留。如果你在做选择，我们的尺寸指南把这些数字并排列出。
常见问题
水池和水应该多深？
水必须深到动物踩不到底，水面以上的池壁也要足够高，防止逃脱。大鼠：水深约25-30厘米，水面以上池壁约25-30厘米。小鼠：浅一些，让它们能越过池壁看到房间线索。当地伦理委员会、许可条件和兽医的意见始终优先。
更多细节
水池应足够深，让动物无法站立或跳出，通常水深约25-30 cm，上方池壁高度与之相近。水箱深50 cm、水深25 cm [Vorhees & Williams 2024]；HVS：池壁60 cm、水深30 cm [HVS]。水位应能防止跳出，但不能挡住看向房间线索的视线 [Vorhees & Williams 2024]。
深入了解
一个注水30 cm的2 m水池约装0.9 t水（示例），过量注水则超过1.5 t [HVS]。
我应该买水池还是自己建？
只要水池符合规格，购买或自建都可以。它需要合适的直径、光滑无接缝且不反光的内壁、排水口、带锁定脚轮的稳固支架以及安全的电气设施。比较总成本时要包括你的时间、排水口、支架和维修。当地伦理委员会、许可条件和兽医的意见始终优先。
更多细节
买来的水池和自建的水池都可以；关键是满足相同的规格，而公平的比较是总成本，包括员工时间。规格包括：适合物种的直径 [Vorhees & Williams 2024]；均匀、无接缝的内壁；倾斜的排水口；层压聚丙烯或类似材料 [Vorhees & Williams 2024]；锁定脚轮和安全的工作高度 [HVS]；有漏电保护器（RCD）保护的电气设施 [HSE]。
深入了解
按同等条件比较，包括员工时间，而不只是购买价格。每一项都要问供应商的问题，或自建时要做的计划：1) 真正的圆形，标明内径和深度（校准和区域都假定为圆形；尺寸决定难度 [Vorhees & Williams 2024]）：询问直径和圆度公差，或使用模具并在完工前检查圆度。2) 无接缝、不反光、耐用的内壁（接缝会成为线索，涂漆表面可能剥落 [Morris 1984]）：询问材料、表面处理、颜色和保修，或预留胶衣或塑料内衬、固化时间和维修。3) 有额定承重且带锁定脚轮的支架（满水水池可能超过1.5 t，移动会改变校准 [HVS]）：询问额定载荷和锁定方式，或请人检查框架和地面承重。4) 排水和注水（水通常每周换一到两次 [Vorhees & Williams 2024]）：询问排水口尺寸、阀门和软管走向，或规划管道和地漏通道。5) 稳定的水温 [HVS]：询问加热器选项和温控器精度，或在有RCD保护的电源上使用适合潮湿环境的加热器。6) 窗帘和线索安装：询问导轨或框架选项，或规划天花板导轨。7) 搬入：大型水池可能无法通过门 [HVS]；询问分段结构、送货和安装，或预留组装空间、密封和焊接。8) 总成本：把送货、安装、备件和交货期，与材料、员工工时、返工和停用时间进行比较。