The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums (Simple Guide to...) (Paperback)

by David E. Boruchowitz (Author) "Because of the fervent dedication of many aquarists, the needs of a new aquarium owner are often overlooked by people already well into fish..." (more)
Key Phrases: Brief Overview of Aquarium Fish Species, White Clouds

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The key to becoming a dedicated aquarium hobbyist is to succeed with your first aquarium. The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums concentrates on providing you with a complete plan and all the information you need to choose and use the right-for-you aquarium equipment and the right-for-you fish and plants: it wants you to succeed. The information is presented in a completely straightforward text that’s easy to read, easy to understand - and very definitely easy to put to good use.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: TFH Publications (May 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793821010
• ISBN-13: 978-0793821013
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #209,472 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some great features to get your started, but needs a few improvements, July 19, 2005

By	John H. Henderson (Rockledge, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My wife and I picked up this book in the pet store along with a 29-gallon starter kit. It might have been better to read the book first, but I lucked out in that there was nothing really wrong with my kit (All-Glass kit with Tetra components). I like the For Dummies books, and looked through the Dummies book, but this one got me with its colorful photos, but is written in very much the same style as Dummies: Cartoons beginning the chapters, call-outs in the margins, friendly writing style, etc.

If you're a raw beginner with aquaria, I don't know what you could need that this book doesn't cover. I think the most valuable unique feature is the last chapter which includes a dozen or so expertly predesigned stocking schemes. Compatible fish are chosen, and the numbers given for your size tank (29- or 50- gallon) to ensure success. We are following the Asian biotope with White Clouds, Rasboras, Gold Barbs and Dwarf Gouramis.

Probably the most annoying thing about the book is that the photos of the fish are scattered throughout the book. It is nice in that while you are reading on more mundane topics, there's a fish photo to remind you of your results. I can see the advantage of this, but when you want to see what a Dwarf Gourami looks like, you have to search through the book. The index lists the fish, but does not reference the photographs! A separate index of the photos would be nice, or, at the minimum, list the photos in the regular index.

The author strongly suggests a 50- or 55-gallon tank to begin with. This is not a bad recommendation. But he realizes that that's not practical for all households. A 29 gallon is his second choice. The things he preaches are regular water changes, no overfeeding and not overpopulating the tank.

Mr. Boruchowitz suggests placing the tank near a floor drain and where a hose easily reaches. I suspect that this is not possible for most people who want an aquarium, like us, to add ambience to your living area. To meet his suggestions, we'd be putting the tank outside on the patio or on the bathroom sink! Therein lies the main disadvantage of a larger tank - water changes need to be done with buckets.

Although he does tell you the correct pronunciation of "cichlid," I wish he had discussed other pronunciations so you don't feel like a fool in the fish store. (Gouramis: Gore-A-meez or GORE-a-miss?). A half page on Latin pronunciation would have been a cool addition.

There seems to be a wide range of recommendations on what to do while cycling the tank. Some experts recommend 10-15% weekly water changes while cycling or not. They argue that letting the ammonia level rise encourages the development of the nitrifying bacteria (this is a good thing - we're trying to do this) and there is little unusual you need to do. At the other end of the spectrum are those who do large and frequent water water changes while cycling to keep the ammonia levels down for the benefit of the fish, and argue that the bacteria will develop fine regardless. Mr. Boruchowitz falls very much in the latter camp, also encouraging frequent water testing while cycling. I guess my point is to be aware that there's a range of opinions on this topic, and you may find that you can be sucessful with less work than presented. (My expert aquarist coworker told me to not bother testing and don't do anything heroic with water changes.)

Other reviewers complained that the author did not focus much on the fish. There are 1000-plus-page books on freshwater aquarium fish, and I believe that this is outside the scope of this book. There is enough discussion of fish to make you avoid problems, and if you follow the suggested stocking schemes, you should be successful. This book is addressed to beginners. Once you're successful with a scheme in this book, you can spend a lifetime researching other fish to keep.

This book also explodes many misconceptions, like that fish only grow to fit the size of the tank, (They grow until the tank is too small to support them, and they die!) and that you must have an algae eater in the tank (the problem is that people use an algae-eater as an excuse to omit proper maintenance, or don't consider its load on the tank).

I HIGHLY recommend this book to someone starting with an aquarium for the first time (and would suggest getting the book first, but when we decided to get an aquarium, we were too excited not to buy the whole outfit!). I only did not give it five stars because there's room for improvement, especially in indexing the fish photos.

50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book - Before you buy ANY fish!!!, September 28, 2003

By	jd (Harrisburg, PA) - See all my reviews

I was getting very discouraged (after killing about 1 1/2 tankfuls of fish), so I browsed here on Amazon and found this book. I wish I could give it 6 stars. Everything we beginners do or are led to do, is doomming our fish to a quick demise. If you plan on getting a 10 gallon tank with an undergravel filter(the typical beginner package) filled with a random assortment of fish - you are almost bound to fail. This book will explain why - and also give you recipes for nearly guaranteed success. I wish I got this book a year ago - as do all me poor dead little fishy friends, too, I suspect.

Bottom line - if you are a beginner - GET THIS BOOK!

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best beginner's guide, January 18, 2004

By	Kathleen (Montgomery, AL United States) - See all my reviews

Before I bought my first aquarium, I read several books for beginners, and this is by far the best. Anyone who is interested in fishkeeping and follows the advice in this book will have a successful experience. All the basics --tank sizes (DON'T start too small!), essential equipment, water quality, feeding, etc.-- are covered clearly and thoroughly. In addition, the advice about chemicals and equipment to avoid will save you money and prevent stress on both you and your fish. Finally, the stocking schemes offered (there are many, many options) are like having an expert go fish shopping with you so you can choose the perfect selection of fish based on your preferences and tank size while avoiding the expense and disappointment of choosing incompatible or unsuitable species (e.g., aggressive fish, fish that grow too large, fish that require very special environments).If you are beginner in the hobby, buy this book, follow the advice, and you will have a great experience!