Aquarium Designs Inspired by Nature Book

This lavishly photo-filled volume demonstrates that having an aquarium to be proud of means much more than keeping fish in a glass tank. The aquarium enthusiast who takes his hobby seriously reproduces a part of the aquatic natural environment in miniature inside his home. Author Peter Hiscock offers practical instructions on setting up a freshwater tropical aquarium. He describes substrate, aquarium plants, and appropriate combinations of fish. Much of this book focuses on fish and plant life in nature, and then offers details on replicating natural settings that are to be found in many different parts of the world. This lavish volume?s main sections discuss the following topics: Setting up an Aquarium: A practical introduction to the process of assembling a freshwater tropical aquarium with descriptions of all needed materials, from substrate to filters. Choosing and Using Aquarium Plants: A detailed review of aquarium plants and how to use them effectively in a freshwater tropical aquarium. How Fishes Live: A look at the lifestyles and physiology of freshwater tropical fish. This chapter serves as a foundation for the book?s main section , which follows. A World Tour in Your Aquarium: This major section of the book offers readers a tour of the world?s freshwater habitats as they exist in different parts of the world. It describes methods to set up an aquarium that recreates the atmosphere and fish life of each location, including a mountain stream of fast-flowing water, a mangrove swamp, a flooded Amazon forest, a Southeast Asian swamp, and several others. Both plants and fish varieties are shown in vivid color photos and described in detail. More than 450 color photos and illustrations. Hardcover w/ jacket / 208 Pages / 8 1/2 x 10 / 2003Read More