Freshwater Aquarium Models: Recipes for Creating Beautiful Aquariums That Thrive »

John Tullock, a lifetime aquarist, owned a retail and mail-order aquarium business for years.He founded the American Marinelife Dealer Association. Tullock has authored twelve books about aquariums, including Bring Me Home: Saltwater Aquariums Make a Great Hobby and Saltwater Aquarium Models (both from Howell Book House). He holds a master's degree in zoology.

Living works of art, freshwater aquariums bring nature inside. They're fascinating, soothing, and mesmerizing, but designing and creating an aquarium can be time-consuming. This book shows you step-by-step and fish-by-fish how to create a beautiful, harmonious aquarium that mimics a natural habitat and fosters healthy fish and plant life. It includes:

• More than 80 detailed recipes for aquariums of different types and sizes, depicting a variety of natural freshwater environments from five continents
• Specific aquarium model designs in which fish and plants flourish, maintenance is easy, and the aquarium enhances the home
• Design considerations, including space limitations, backgrounds, and aquascaping ideas
• A 16-page color insert that's an inspiring catalog of fish and plant varieties
• The basics of aquarium setup and maintenance

With these model designs and this information, your fish and plants will coexist beautifully in their freshwater habitat and your aquarium will provide years of captivating, calming enjoyment.

PART I: Aquarium Basics.

INTRODUCTION. THE ALLURE OF AQUARIUMS.

CHAPTER 1. CARING FOR AN AQUARIUM.

Water.

Physical and Chemical Cycles.

Lighting.

The Needs of Aquarium Plants.

Foods and Feeding.

Routine Maintenance.

Maintenance Service.

CHAPTER 2. BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN FISH AND AQUARIUMS.

Guidelines for Design.

Finding the Right Fit with Fish.

Finding a Good Dealer.

Choosing Healthy Plants.

Acclimating New Arrivals.

PART II: Aquarium Mechanics.

CHAPTER 3. MAKING YOUR HABITAT LOOK REAL.

Taking the Tank into Consideration.

Lighting.

Backgrounds.

Including Terrestrial Components.

Aquascaping.

Borrowing from Japanese Gardeners.

CHAPTER 4. NUTS AND BOLTS.

Built-in Installations.

Free-Standing Installations.

CHAPTER 5. TROUBLESHOOTING.

Disease Prevention.

Plant Problems.

Algae Problems.

PART III: Freshwater Aquarium Model Designs.

CHAPTER 6. SOUTHEAST ASIA.

CHAPTER 7. AUSTRALASIA.

CHAPTER 8. AFRICA.

CHAPTER 9. SOUTH AMERICA.

CHAPTER 10. CENTRAL AMERICA.

CHAPTER 11. NORTH AMERICA.

CHAPTER 12. PURELY ARTISTIC DESIGNS.

PART IV: The Appendixes.

APPENDIX A. FRESHWATER FISH AND PLANTS.

Fish.

Temperature.

Water Hardness.

pH.

Other Lists.

Plants.

Location.

Temperature.

Plants and Water Hardness.

Plants and pH.

Other Helpful Plant Lists.

APPENDIX B. TANK SPECIFICATIONS.

APPENDIX C. MEASUREMENTS AND CONVERSIONS.

Water.

Liquid Measure.

Light Intensity.

Temperature Conversions.

Alkalinity Conversions.

Abbreviations.

Water Hardness Designations.

APPENDIX D.   RIVER MAPS.

INDEX.