Scrying and Crystal Ball Reading: A Comprehensive Guide to Divination, Psychic Mediumship, and Working with Spirit Guides (A Spiritual Journey) Silvia Hill
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2019952061
ISBN: 978-1-119-61268-1; ISBN 978-1-119-61275-9 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-61276-6 (ebk)
Manufactured in the United States of America
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Contents at a Glance
Part 2:
Setting Up Your Aquarium
CHAPTER 6: Selecting the Best Aquarium That Meets Your Needs
7: Figuring
CHAPTER 8: Heating and Lighting Your Aquarium
CHAPTER 9: Decorating Your Tank — Fishy
Part 3: Taking Proper Care of Your
Part 4: Caring for Your Fish
Part 5: The Part of Tens
Part 6: The Appendixes
APPENDIX A: Additional Resources Every Saltwater Aquarist Needs
APPENDIX B: Glossary
(Tetraodontidae)
PART 5: THE PART OF TENS
APPENDIX B: Glossary
Introduction
Congratulations, my friend! You’ve just taken the first step into the world of saltwater aquariums, and I welcome you. Stop looking for complicated books with laborious equations on filtration and water chemistry. Don’t grab a book just because it has a lot of pretty photos of elegant saltwater fish! The complete hassle-free guide to setting up a saltwater aquarium is Saltwater Aquariums For Dummies, 3rd Edition, and, fortunately for you, it’s in your hands right now.
Saltwater Aquariums For Dummies, 3rd Edition is a fun reference book that walks you through the entire aquarium process from selecting the proper equipment to choosing the right fish. I even help you choose the right pet store because, believe me, they aren’t all alike. I know, you’ve been told that saltwater aquariums are complicated, need constant attention, and cost a lot. But times have changed since the introduction of the goldfish bowl, and new technologies are making the saltwater aquarium hobby a fast-growing pastime that, with a little diligence, can be mastered by everyone with the average-size pocketbook.
That being said, relax and read on. I keep it simple, and I don’t skimp on the facts. If all goes as planned, your aquarium will be set up in no time, and you and your family will be smiling for a long time to come.
About This Book
There’s something about fish that I find fascinating, and the thought of keeping them in my home is exciting. I am truly a fish fanatic. I find fish fun, too, so I guess I’m really a fish “funatic” and hope you are as well. You and I aren’t alone; people have been keeping fish in captivity for centuries. Among the first fish kept in captivity were the common goldfish dating back to 265 A.D. in China. Care and husbandry of fishes have come a long way over the centuries.
The world of fish is both enthralling and complex. In this newest edition of this book, my goal is to boil down the complexity and give you everything you need to know to set up and maintain a successful saltwater aquarium. Doing so requires a general knowledge of fish, their anatomy, and biology. You also need a thorough understanding of their proper care and husbandry. Saltwater aquariums have
come a long way since my last edition. More saltwater fishes and invertebrates are being raised in captivity, which is much better for the environment. And new technologies are making this hobby much easier and, therefore, more enjoyable. I cover all these advancements in this new edition.
In this book, I offer you a look at the watery world of saltwater fishes and invertebrates, and I show you what makes these animals so unique. I also examine the aquarium and the importance of meeting the biological needs of fish. In the process, I describe the critical differences between freshwater and saltwater aquariums. I walk you through the basics of aquarium setup and proper maintenance. I cover proper nutrition and feeding as well as fish health issues. And I even cover some advanced marine aquarium techniques. And, although I’m repeating myself, I present all this info with a painless and simple approach.
Foolish Assumptions
When writing this book, I make the following assumptions about you:
» I assume you know little to nothing about aquariums, filtration, fish, or invertebrates.
» I assume you have no formal schooling in biology.
» I assume you have a genuine interest in these subjects to the point that you want to keep saltwater creatures in captivity.
» I assume this interest is so great that you’re willing to do what it takes to keep your saltwater pets happy and healthy.
That’s it! If you’ve previously had a freshwater aquarium or you know a little more than I expect, then feel free to skip over sections of this book or merely breeze through them to make sure you have a firm handle on the subject.
Icons Used in This Book
As is typical of For Dummies books, a number of small pictures called icons appear in the margins of this book that highlight various aspects of the text. Here’s what they mean:
If I use this icon, it means that I want you to make a special effort to remember the point that I’m making. This information needs to be emphasized and reemphasized so that it sinks in. Most of this is common sense. For example, the correct temperature for a tropical aquarium is important to remember, but I won’t ask you to commit the chemical composition of seawater to memory.
When you see this icon, it means that the paragraph next to it is something I suggest you do to help you accomplish the task at hand or information that will keep your aquarium and its inhabitants healthy.
As you’d expect, this icon is indicative of a potential problem or dangerous situation associated with the topic being discussed. Pay particular attention to these icons because they may involve your fish, but they’re more likely to affect you and those around you.
In most cases, this icon highlights information that is technical by nature and not critical to the task at hand. If you simply aren’t interested in the topic, pass over it.
Where to Go from Here
Well, now that you and I have had an opportunity to meet, it’s time to move on to the real important stuff: saltwater aquariums. Where you go from here largely depends on your personal level of expertise. If you have never owned an aquarium, then simply turn the page, and start at square one.
If, however, you already have some saltwater pets in mind and want to start by building your aquarium, go to Part 2. Perhaps you want to review the table of contents or index and see what topics tickle your fancy. You can also refer to the Cheat Sheet at www.dummies.com for more helpful advice that you can refer to whenever you need to. Go for it. Enjoy!
1 Getting Started with Saltwater Aquarium Basics
IN THIS PART . . .
Discover all the great reasons to have a saltwater aquarium, what you need to get started in your new hobby, and what it takes to keep your new pets happy and healthy for years to come.
Explore fish anatomy, biology, and physiology, find out about how fishes are classified, and familiarize yourself with all the families most commonly kept in the saltwater aquarium.
Choose the best fish species for your new saltwater aquarium by understanding where they come from, their daily habits, their dietary preferences, and their disposition.
Survey the fascinating and diverse world of marine invertebrates and discover about their biology, the way they live, and the most common aquarium species.
Find out how to select healthy fish and invertebrates for your saltwater aquarium, the best way to get them to their new home, why isolating new pets in a quarantine tank is important, and ultimately how you can add them to your aquarium.
IN THIS CHAPTER
» Experiencing the joy of having an aquarium
» Understanding aquarium pets and what they need
» Choosing the right equipment
» Maintaining a healthy aquarium
» Keeping your fish happy and healthy
Chapter 1
Taking Your First Salty Steps
You can find a variety of reasons to purchase, set up, and maintain a healthy aquarium in your home. Perhaps your child wants a saltwater aquarium, and you’re wrestling with the decision. In this chapter, I help you make that decision with a broad overview of what saltwater aquarium keeping entails.
Perhaps the best way to describe the experience of having an aquarium is to tell you why I started keeping an aquarium when I was young. Prompted by the early television shows of underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau, I was in awe of the ocean and its inhabitants, particularly tropical coral reefs and all the beautiful creatures that inhabit them. During those same years, I was fortunate to travel to the coral reefs of the Caribbean and swim among those very creatures. Swimming about the reef with a mask and a snorkel, I explored all the nooks, watched the fish, and admired the beauty for hours and hours. Soon I learned to scuba dive and take underwater photos, but that wasn’t enough, especially when I had to return to cold Connecticut waters. I had to have these animals in my home all the time. So I set up an aquarium and was able to experience much of what I enjoyed while swimming with the fish. Later, inspired by these childhood experiences, I became a marine biologist.
Knowing about Wet Pets and Where to Buy Them
Most of the ornamental fishes sold in pet stores are freshwater fish, many of which are spawned and raised in captivity. Although they represent only a fraction of the number of fishes sold, saltwater species have been traditionally harvested from the wild. More and more saltwater species are bred in captivity every year, and many countries are starting to ban the collection of fish and invertebrates in their waters. As a result, you should make every effort to choose captive-bred animals for your aquarium. Nonetheless, you will still encounter fish or invertebrates for your saltwater aquarium that have been captured and taken from their native habitat.
Here I discuss the basics about buying your saltwater pets and locating a reliable fish dealer to help you get started.
Focusing on saltwater critters
The most popular of these saltwater fish come primarily from coral reefs. Of course, natural reef systems can be hurt if great care isn’t taken to protect them and harvest fish wisely. If managed properly, the coral reefs around the world can be harvested without harm because they are extremely productive. Take care, however, not to purchase fish that may have been harvested in areas that don’t adhere to the sound conservation of natural reefs. If you can, try to purchase captive-bred fish.
To make sure that your fish are harvested without harm to the environment, check with the Marine Aquarium Council (www.marineaquariumcouncil.org).
Saltwater aquarium pets typically include both fish and invertebrates. In Chapter 2, I go into great detail about fish and not only tell you about their scales, fins, and gills, but I also give you an overview of the fish families that you’re most likely to encounter in the pet store. Knowing all about fish families is one thing, but which fishes are right for you? Well, Chapter 3 helps you choose those fish species that are best for the beginner and tells you about fish that school, fish that are active at night, and even those species best avoided.
Invertebrates, however, are different from fish. They belong to many kinds of groups, such as insects, clams, corals, and worms. The basic feature that unites invertebrates is the fact that they lack a backbone. In Chapter 4, you find out all about invertebrate groups, how they are classified, who’s who, and which ones would make nice additions to your aquarium. After reading Chapter 4, you will know that invertebrates for the aquarium include shrimp, coral, and anemones, to name a few.
