Freshwater Aquariums For Dummies » (Revised Edition)

Maddy and Mic Hargrove are both contributing writers for many aquatic magazines, including Tropical Fish Hobbyist and Aquarium Fish magazine, and are also the authors of several aquarium books. They have both been in the writing industry for over 30 years.
Maddy’s interest in fish began when she was five years old. She often dreamed of keeping fish at home as she watched the local fishermen bring in their daily catch in her hometown. She began keeping aquariums at age seven and began breeding fish at age ten. She built her aquarium collection by selling and trading her newborn fry to local aquarium stores in exchange for aquariums and equipment as she was growing up.
Her passion for aquarium fish continued on after she finished her college degree in journalism and began writing aquarium-keeping articles for print and online aquatic magazines. Eventually, she wrote several aquarium columns and began writing fishkeeping books to help other hobbyists enjoy keeping aquariums at home as much as she did. Her love of fish has also appeared in her greeting cards, cartoons, and other artwork.

Mic has kept aquarium fish for almost 30 years. He was one of the first sailors to develop a tank system that could keep aquarium fish alive onboard Navy vessels. His love of fish began when he saw many different species, aquatic traditions, and other hobbyists while on his worldwide military travels.
Both authors enjoy breeding fish, traveling, scuba diving, cooking and creating exciting new recipes, collecting old records, and computer games.

Covers the latest aquarium gadgets


Design a dazzling underwater environment with this bestselling guide!

Setting up your first freshwater aquarium can be a daunting task. This friendly guide answers all your questions, from setting up your tank and selecting fish to the water, chemicals, plants, and much more. There's also expanded guidance on combining different species of fish, maintaining a tank, cleaning gravel, and dealing with common problems such as algae.

Discover how to
* Choose the right aquarium
* Select the best fish
* Get good deals on equipment
* Maintain a clean, healthy environment
* Handle tank pitfalls
* Breed your fish

Part I: Aquarium Basics.

Chapter 1: Tanks for the Memories.

Chapter 2: The Practice of Aquarium Keeping.

Chapter 3: Finding a Good Location.

Chapter 4: The Tank and Stand.

Chapter 5: What to Put and What Not to Put in Your Tank.

Chapter 6: Equipment and Other Technical Stuff.

Part II: Fish and How to Care for Them.

Chapter 7: Fish Anatomy.

Chapter 8: Finding Your Species.

Chapter 9: Purchasing Your Fish.

Chapter 10: Diet and Nutrition for Your Wet Pets.

Chapter 11: Diseases and Treatments.

Part III: Water, Chemicals, and Plants.

Chapter 12: All Water Is Not Created Equal.

Chapter 13: Those Crazy Chemicals.

Chapter 14: The Nitrogen Cycleand Water Testing.

Chapter 15: Putting It All Together.

Chapter 16: Live Plants for Freshwater Aquariums.

Chapter 17: Choosing Plant Species for Your Tank.

Chapter 18: What to Do if Trouble Strikes.

Part IV: Breeding and Other Fun Stuff.

Chapter 19: The Breeding Room.

Chapter 20: Let’s Spawn!

Chapter 21: Recording Data and Photographing Fish.

Chapter 22: Competing in Fish Shows.

Chapter 23: For the Advanced Aquarium Hobbyist.

Part V: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 24: Ten Cool Aquarium Gadgets.

Chapter 25: Ten Ways to Kill Your Fish Without Even Trying.

Chapter 26: Ten Scientific Fish Laws.

Chapter 27: Ten Aquatic New Year’s Resolutions.

Appendix: Tank Figures and Facts.

Index.