First published in 2001, The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums has become the bestselling reference in its category, offering an easy-to-understand look at setting up and maintaining a successful first freshwater aquarium.
Now in a completely revised second edition, The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums offers comprehensive and authoritative information that will guide new hobbyists to guaranteed success. Written by a renowned aquarium hobby expert, this indispensable guide contains many ideas for tank setups and stocking schemes—with brand new text that makes the subject material even easier to access and understand for the beginner hobbyist. An all-new preface reflects changes in the hobby since the first edition, while two brand new chapters discuss the benefits of routine large water changes as well as what to expect when progressing further into aquarium keeping. The book also adds mention of all new species that are especially recommended for beginners, plus over 150 full-color photos, captions,
I really enjoyed this book, and it has provided lots of good advice as I’ve set up a family aquarium. I dabbled a bit as a teenager, with varying success (some tries my aquarium lasted a year, other times I definitely got new tank syndrome and they all died). Now that I’m a bit older, I wanted to set up an aquarium for my son’t 4-year old birthday that we could all enjoy, and I wanted to make sure I did it right.
This book is written in a very accessible manner, as if the author is in your living room giving a friendly chat about his experience in the hobby. It is the ideal length, and the neatest thing about it is, as the author says, he provides what he views is the minimal ESSENTIAL info to enable you to set up a successful first, and doesn’t present the range of viewpoints, or more information that might just confuse a beginner. He rightly notes that a successful beginner will be interested in finding more detailed information if his initial experience is positive.
The three best things about this book in my opinion:
– the information on water changes. I had mistakenly believed in earlier efforts that water changes were BAD, and should be kept at a minimum. The author is a water change fanatic, comparing a water change for an aquarium to opening the windows in an overcroweded room with poor air circulation (not to mention sanitation!), and he is right. I have not lost any fish yet, and I credit that to water changes, and …
– cycling; the next best thing about the book. An easy-to-understand step-by-step guide to the mystical concept of cycling. In addition to explaining this for beginners, the author stresses the need to start stocking the tank with fish slowly. You will have success if you follow this advice.
– stocking schemes. Though on one hand being limited to a recommended stocking scheme is well … limiting, it relieves you of the burden of extensive research to try to come up with fish that are hardy and won’t eat each other. He provides about 10 different options, so their is considerable choice, and you can tweak a bit if you want, with minimal research.
So buy this book with confidence. You have a large base of satisfied readers guiding you in this choice. And kudos to the author, Mr. Boruchowitz, for making such a lasting and successful contribution to the hobby he loves!
I purchased this book on the strength of the reviews of the first edition. I have to say that I was not at all disappointed.
When I got the book, the sum total of my fish knowledge came from pet-sitting a betta fish for a month. However, I work in a large pet store and wanted to learn about our aquatics department. This book was invaluable in helping me to quickly understand the basics of aquarium care. I found it relatively easy to read & understand.
I was also snared into the world of fish-enthusiasts – I am now in the process of setting up my own tank (I’m still in the cycling stage) & have tentative plans for a second tank.
The book helped me avoid the common pitfalls beginners make and revealed the truth behind some fish myths (fish do NOT grow to fit the tank).
The chapters on required equipment (Ch 4: What do I have to have?), cycling (Ch 12), & Suggested Stocking Schemes (Ch 19) are particularly helpful. This is some of the most important information new fish owners should have, and it is hard to find in other aquarium books.
The book does not have much detailed information on specific species of fish, but that is not what this book is meant to do. That information is easy to find in any freshwater fish guide.
I definitely recommend this book to beginners.