The Essential Freshwater Aquarium (Essential Guides Series) [Abridged] [Paperback]

Betsy Sikora Siino (Consultant Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 1998 | Series: Essential Guides Series

* Aquarium Set-up and Maintenance
* Selecting Fish
* Fish Nutrition
* Keeping Fish Healthy
Owning an aquarium is rewarding and fun! Get all you need to know about setting up a freshwater aquarium, choosing the right fish for you and keeping your fish in the best of health in The Essential Freshwater Aquarium. Special features include professional color photos and expert tips on how to maintain a vital environment for your fish. Learn how to have an aquarium that the whole family will enjoy with The Essential Freshwater Aquarium.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

• Aquarium Set-up and Maintenance
• Selecting Fish
• Fish Nutrition
• Keeping Fish Healthy

Owning an aquarium is rewarding and fun! Get all you need to know about setting up a freshwater aquarium, choosing the right fish for you and keeping your fish in the best of health in The Essential Freshwater Aquarium. Special features include professional color photos and expert tips on how to maintain a vital environment for your fish. Learn how to have an aquarium that the whole family will enjoy with The Essential Freshwater Aquarium.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 1 edition (August 11, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876053312
• ISBN-13: 978-0876053317
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 6.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #189,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Home & Garden > Animal Care & Pets > Fish & Aquariums
  • #72 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Fish & Aquariums

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good reference guide, November 1, 2003

By 

sauerkraut - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Essential Freshwater Aquarium (Essential Guides Series) (Paperback)

I find this to be a solid reference guide when it comes to setting up a freshwater aquarium. Some of the things discussed are fish evolution and biology, tank size, aquarium stands, water chemistry (including the important nitrogen cycle), different types of filters, aeration, heating, lighting, gravel, plants, general maintenance, freshwater fish families, fish selection, feeding, and health. The color photographs are also pleasing. This is a helpful book.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great beginner guide and quick reference, December 12, 2006

By 

LK "LK" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Essential Freshwater Aquarium (Essential Guides Series) (Paperback)

I used this book to clean up a dying 10 gallon tank and start a 55 gallon tank and the information was invaluable. Two years later I still refer back to this book (in fact I am buying a replacement for my lost copy). I found it to contain all the essential information one needs, plus great information on fish personalities and interactions. The fish descriptions and types are quite abridged, but for a small handy guide this book is the one you need.

It covers the basics from tank setup to the nitrogen cycle to what species do well together. There is a guide to recognizing fish diseases - I can't praise this small book enough. I like things to be concise. For elaboration I go to the library. Keep this near your tank.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Essential for beginners, September 6, 2008

By 

C. Liszewski "FuzzArizona" (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Essential Freshwater Aquarium (Essential Guides Series) (Paperback)

This is an excellent book for beginners, it goes over most things essential to setting up and taking care of an aquarium. Such as maintence and cycleing a new tank, and types of filters and lights, etc. It has a very general description of fish species and characteristics. Because the information provided in this book is "essential" intermediate aquarist might find this book a bit tedious because there isnt realy any information an experienced aquarist shouldnt already know. I would recomend this to sombody who is new to or is interested in the hobby.