Customer Reviews

Creating a Natural Aquarium (Interpet Handbooks)

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I'm going to start off by saying that this book is basically an older version of "Aquarium Designs Inspired by Nature", by the same author. This being said I'm going to compare the two in this review.

Both books are for anyone who has wanted to turn their aquarium from a mix and match display to a strict biotope aquarium. They are divided in two parts, the first is a "practical section" that covers the water cycle, substrates and decoration, plants, water conditions and planning. Aquarium Designs Inspired by Nature (ADIBN) goes into some detail on the subjects but doesn't go as far as a textbook and make it boooooring. It is good information for aquarists of all levels. In the book, "Creating a Natural Aquarium" (CANA), the same information is covered in Part 1, but to a lesser degree and CANA omits some small sections. Part 1 of both books is really very similar and I wouldn't choose one based on the small differences. The important factor, in my opinion, the differences in part 2.

Part 2 of ADIBN covers more biotopes than CANA, which I will list below. The biotopes that are in both books are virtually the same. I this list I will list the biotope sections and then which book it is in.

Mountain Stream (CANA) split up in ADIBN
*Chinese Mountain Stream (ADIBN)
Central American Stream (BOTH)
Central American River (BOTH)
Australian River (BOTH)
European River (BOTH)
*European Lake (ADIBN)
Flooded Forest (CANA) Same as Below
Flooded Amazon Forest (ADIBN)
Amazon Acid Pool (Both)
*Downriver Amazon (ADIBN)
*Congo Whitewater River (ADIBN)
*West African Streambed (ADIBN)
Lake Malawi (BOTH)
Darkened Cave (BOTH)
*Southeast Asian Stream (ADIBN)
Southeast Asian Swamp (BOTH)
*Indian River (ADIBN)
Brackish Estuary (BOTH)
Mangrove Swamp (BOTH)

Personally I prefer Aquarium Designs Inspired by Nature because it includes a few extra biotypes and goes into a little more depth about each biotype. Aquarium Designs... is also a larger book so there are more pictures and they are larger. Aquarium Designs... uses the pictures from Creating a Natural Aquarium and adds a few. I like pictures, so this personal preference.

CONCLUSION:
If you want a little more detail and a few extra biotopes then go with AQUARIUM DESIGNS INSPIRED BY NATURE. If cost is a factor CREATING A NATURAL AQUARIUM is usually cheaper, or if you don't really care about the extra details left out CANA is equally as good as ADIBN. Both books are helpful in pointing you in the right direction and showing natural habitats. No matter which you pick you will be happy. (I Hope) These are the best books I have found (so far) that describe natural environments for the home aquarium. GOOD LUCK!

This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in Biotope tanks, or just a healthy habitat for your fish. It give in detail instructions and ideas, for biotopes from every part of the world, along with list of fish and plants for the tanks as well, its had many pictures to help you. and even goes into detail about kinda of substrates, filtration and other things. all the tanks in the book are built in 55gallon tanks, but can be made smaller. It even explains the different biotopes. if you having trouble finding info on any type of biotope this book is well worth the small investment, even with just one use it will pay for itself in the time you save. I very highly recommend this book to everyone, beginner or expert.

This is a good book for aquarium biotopes beginners, worhthy the price, have lots of images, good ideas that may help you at the time you mount a tank. On the other hand, this book has many errors on the right location of some plants, for example anubias in an "Amazon Acis Pool"?, i don?t think so, so if mistakes like this don?t bother you then this book is a good low price choice. Conversely to the plants mistakes, i found several ideas about "fishing bitopes", a very accurate research on fishes on differents areas. Good book for the price.

this is a great book for planning out your aquarium and plants...note this book does not have very much if any info on fish

Well I thought this would be a book that covered more water chemistry, and plants. Also their effect on water quality. This was more of, a picture book about different biotopes, for example how make your aquarium an amazonian aquarium only. Not a bad book but, I guess it was not what I had expected.

If you want to know about water quality plants effects on, and fish effects on it. You should seek another book.