Learn the best tips for taking care of your finned friends\ Teach Yourself Keeping Aquarium Fish provides you with everything you need to know to set up and maintain a happy, healthy freshwater or salt-water aquarium. Important terms, selecting appropriate breeds, equipment, care and feeding, temperature control and cleaning, and all the other essentials are covered in lucid detail. There is also coverage of more advanced subjects such as breeding, and a gallery of stunning color photos...
Learn the best tips for taking care of your finned friendsTeach Yourself Keeping Aquarium Fish provides you with everything you need to know to set up and maintain a happy, healthy freshwater or salt-water aquarium. Important terms, selecting appropriate breeds, equipment, care and feeding, temperature control and cleaning, and all the other essentials are covered in lucid detail. There is also coverage of more advanced subjects such as breeding, and a gallery of stunning color photos showcases some of the many beautiful breeds available.
Foreword viiWhy keep fish? 1The choice is yours 3Know your fish 8The basic design 9Freshwater and saltwater differences 16The fish's needs 17Space 18Food 18Light 19Containing the interest 21Requirements 22The weight of an aquarium 23The size of an aquarium 23How many fish? 25It's a watery world 28The world's water 29Domestic water supplies 30pH levels and water hardness 31Testing water quality 33The hardware store 34Heating 35Lighting 36Filtration 37Aeration 42The green world 44The benefit of plants 45Using plants 46Types of plants 47Sticks and stones 49Wood 50Rockwork 50Substrate 51The desirable residence 53Tank siting and preparation 54Substrate 56Hardware 57Decoration 61Water 61Planting 63Marine corals 65Finishing off 66Maturation 66Testing the water 67Friends and neighbours 69Buying fish 70Populating the tank 72Quick guide to fish groups 72Tropical fishes 73Coldwater fishes 83Tropical marine fishes 84Suggested fish and plant collections 85Introducing the fish 88What's on the menu? 91Quantity 92What to feed 92Other foods 95Feeding the fish during the holidays 98Routine maintenance 99Aquarium management 102How to change water 103Keeping the glass clean 103Cleaning filters 104Keeping a tank clean 105Handling fish 105In sickness and in health 107Prevention 108Quarantining 109Recognizing disease 109Fish ailments 110Diagnosing and treating disease 114Should the worst happen 115The patter of tiny fins 116Methods of reproduction 117Species breeding information 119Breeding fish 120Breeding case histories 126Troubleshooting 138Power failure 139Leaks 139Filters 140Air-pumps 140Algae 140Fish behaviour 141The Show must go on 142Taking it further 145Glossary 150Index 157