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Library of Congress Control Number: 2019947987
ISBN: 978-1-119-60139-5
ISBN 978-1-119-60140-1 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-60137-1 (ebk)
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents at a Glance
Part 1: Getting Started with Freshwater Aquarium Basics
CHAPTER 1: Taking the Plunge: Just the Essentials
CHAPTER 2: The Practice of Aquarium Keeping
CHAPTER
CHAPTER 4: The Tank and Stand
CHAPTER 5: Aquascaping Your Aquarium: What to Add and Not Add in Your Tank
CHAPTER 6: Selecting the Equipment and Other Stuff Your Aquarium Needs
Part 2: Taking a Closer Look at Fish and How to Care for Them
CHAPTER 8: Figuring Out What Kind of Fish to Buy
CHAPTER 9: Working with a Fish Dealer to Purchase Your Fish
Part
CHAPTER 13: Considering Those Crazy Chemicals
Part 4: Breeding and Other Fun Stuff
CHAPTER
CHAPTER
CHAPTER 22: Expanding Your Hobby in Fun
CHAPTER 23: Advancing Your Hobby: Other
PART 2: TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT FISH AND
The pelvic fins
The adipose fin
PART 3: THE BACKGROUND PLAYERS:
AND PLANTS
Collecting Water from Bodies of Water (Why You Want to Forget This Bad Idea)
(Micranthemum
Brazilian micro sword (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis)
Cryptocoryne (Cryptocoryne wendetti)
Dwarf anubias (Anubias nana)
Dwarf four-leaf clover (Marsilia hirsute)
Java moss (Taxiphyllum barbieri)
Madagascar lace (Aponogeton fenestralis)
Pearl grass (Hemianthus micranthemoides)
Aquatic banana plant (Nymphoides aquatica)
Coffeefolia (Anusbis barteri)
Dwarf sagittaria (Sagittaria subulata)
Water wisteria (Hygrophila difformis)
Contemplating Background Plants
Amazon sword (Echinodorus amazonicus)
Carolina fanwort (Cambomba caroliniana)
Corkscrew val (Vallisneria spiralis)
Elodea (Egeria densa)
Giant anubias (Anubias barteri)
Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
Oriental sword (Echinodorus oriental)
Red ludwigia (Ludwigia mullertii)
Red-stem milfoil (Myriophyllum matogrossensis)
Stargrass (Heteranthera zosterifolia)
Going with
Amazon frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum)
Duckweed (Lemna minor)
Envisioning
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)
Starting with Some Easy Plants
Getting your fish to
Repairing a small crack
Saving the kids from each other
Raising the Fry
Introduction
Welcome to the wonderful world of freshwater aquariums! This updated edition of Freshwater Aquariums For Dummies is a handy reference guide for those who want the basics of setting up and maintaining an aquarium system. Everything you need to know to get started on your very own freshwater system can be found right here in this book.
In this book, I tell you about tank styles and equipment, disease prevention and cures, aquarium decoration, maintenance routines, species of fish and their habits, test kits for your water, different types of systems, and tips on working with plants. And much, much more. You’re likely to encounter all sorts of equipment and different fish species in pet shops and online, but all you need is the information contained in this book to get you started on the road to successful fishkeeping. After you master the basics, you can venture into new areas of aquarium keeping with confidence.
So sit back and journey into the fascinating world of freshwater aquariums, gathering the basics of keeping your fish healthy and happy the easy way. Your new aquatic pets will love you for it.
About This Book
You may have heard horror stories about your neighbor’s aquarium. Or maybe your best friend told you that his new aquarium that was in his second floor apartment is now decorating the downstairs tenant’s apartment. Okay, problems happen, but these rare aquarium misadventures can be avoided with a proper knowledge of the basics.
About 99 percent of all potential aquarium problems never occur if hobbyists take the time to find out a few simple fishkeeping basics. Wet floors can be mopped, and tanks can be repaired. Aquarium keeping will still move forward, despite the occasional setbacks encountered from time to time.
It’s really very easy to become a successful fishkeeper. All you need is a little bit of help to get you going, which is exactly what this book provides. This third edition
of Freshwater Aquariums For Dummies gives you good, basic information and the ammo you need to battle any problems that may occur as you live with your aquarium. You can find plenty of information about the following:
» Aquarium 4-1-1: From choosing and finding a good location for a tank and equipment to adding artificial plants and substrate, you can find everything you need to create a safe home for your fish.
» The ABCs of fish: This book includes handy information about the different kinds of fish species to include in your aquarium, behavior and eating habits, and where to purchase your fish. After you have your fish, you’ll need to know what food options are available, how to feed your aquatic pets properly, and how to identify, treat, and prevent many common illnesses.
» Lowdown on water, chemicals, and plants: You can discover all things water, including how to set up the aquarium with chemicals and what to do if you have problems. This book also gives you details about live plant species that can make your aquarium more beautiful and also more hospitable for your fish.
» Birds and the bees: Get plenty of helpful information about setting the mood to breed your fish.
» So much more: You can discover how to share your newfound hobby with your others. If you’re interested, this book also provides ideas to take your hobby to the next level.
My updates also include fun ways to expand your hobby, new equipment that’s available, and a quick guide to a few more advanced systems. This edition also gives you more information on other species of fish and plants.
Foolish Assumptions
When writing this book, I made the following assumptions about you, my dear reader:
» You’re an absolute beginner, have never owned an aquarium before, and never even fed a goldfish.
» You may have dabbled a little (perhaps you won goldfish at your school fair when you were young), but you have no real knowledge of how to set up an aquarium or take care of fish.
» You know a little about fishkeeping and want to discover more so you can set up your first aquarium.
» You’ve attempted setting up an aquarium, but for some reason, your aquarium had tons of algae and your fish were sickly.
» You want to start a small aquarium and teach your children some responsibility about taking care of it.
» You have a small aquarium and want to take your hobby to the next level.
No matter who you are, you can find all sorts of helpful information here.
Icons Used in This Book
If you’ve flipped through this book at all, you’ve probably noticed little pictures, called icons, in the margins. Here’s what they mean:
This icon indicates good advice and information that will help you keep your fish healthy and safe.
When I discuss a task or procedure that might be problematic, I use this icon. It also points out things that might be dangerous to you or your fish.
This icon flags information that’s, well, technical, and you can go ahead and skip that paragraph if you want to.
When I make a point or offer some information that I feel you should keep with you forever, I toss in this icon.
Where to Go from Here
This book is a reference, not a tutorial. You don’t have to read it from Chapter 1 to the end if you just want to get a glimpse of the hobby before you get down to the basics. Just use the table of contents or index to find the topics that interest you and go from there. Start with your needs and interests.
If you don’t already own fish and don’t know how to set up an aquarium, start with Part 1. If you have a little more background in fishkeeping, maybe you want to check out the species guide in Part 2. Or maybe the chapter on live plants in Part 3 has caught your fancy. Go ahead and skip around. That’s what this book is for.
