A Fishkeeper's Guide to the Healthy Aquarium

Rating:
Summary: A great reference for fish care
Review: Dr. Carrington has created a short reference book to help aquarists along.

He covers setting up the tank and equipment, aquatic plants, breeding, avoiding disease, identification of disease, and treatment of diseases.

Don't be put off by the small size of this book, it's the best reference I've seen for fish diseases.

Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive Information for the Well-Being of Your Tank
Review: Dr. Carrington's THE HEALTHY AQUARIUM provides the reader with the knowledge to maintain a biologically and chemically balanced freshwater aquarium (saltwater aquaria are mentioned rarely).

The book begins with discussions of the water cycle and basic water chemistry (i.e. ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, osmosis, dissolved salts, hardness, and pH). Here the nitrogen cycle is presented to the reader, and the reader will attain sufficient understanding of the environment in which the organisms under his care are to live.

Plants are then addressed, with techniques for preparing for and growing them being presented. Dr. Carrington even includes a brief section on plastic plants, and he goes on to discuss treating plants for possible pests residing on them before introduction into the aquarium and the proper amount of lighting for the plants.

The next section of the book is fishbreeding, and Dr. Carrington emphasizes the selection and care of the potential parents, spawning them, and the rearing of the subsequent fry. Conditions necessary to induce spawning are also written about, and Carrington concludes the section with a list of various pests and their treatments.

The author then advises the reader on how to take preventative measures against diseases and how to treat them when they come.

The last part of THE HEALTHY AQUARIUM is an index of pests and diseases, with a reference chart and the beginning of common symptoms. Dr. Carrington explains what the diseases are and how to treat them if any treatment is possible.

This is the one of the best icthyological reference books that I know of, and its coverage of diseases is unsurpassed. I believe that every fishkeeper owes it to himself (and his aquarium) to obtain this book.

Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive Information for the Well-Being of Your Tank
Review: Dr. Carrington's THE HEALTHY AQUARIUM provides the reader with the knowledge to maintain a biologically and chemically balanced freshwater aquarium (saltwater aquaria are mentioned rarely).

The book begins with discussions of the water cycle and basic water chemistry (i.e. ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, osmosis, dissolved salts, hardness, and pH). Here the nitrogen cycle is presented to the reader, and the reader will attain sufficient understanding of the environment in which the organisms under his care are to live.

Plants are then addressed, with techniques for preparing for and growing them being presented. Dr. Carrington even includes a brief section on plastic plants, and he goes on to discuss treating plants for possible pests residing on them before introduction into the aquarium and the proper amount of lighting for the plants.

The next section of the book is fishbreeding, and Dr. Carrington emphasizes the selection and care of the potential parents, spawning them, and the rearing of the subsequent fry. Conditions necessary to induce spawning are also written about, and Carrington concludes the section with a list of various pests and their treatments.

The author then advises the reader on how to take preventative measures against diseases and how to treat them when they come.

The last part of THE HEALTHY AQUARIUM is an index of pests and diseases, with a reference chart and the beginning of common symptoms. Dr. Carrington explains what the diseases are and how to treat them if any treatment is possible.

This is the one of the best icthyological reference books that I know of, and its coverage of diseases is unsurpassed. I believe that every fishkeeper owes it to himself (and his aquarium) to obtain this book.

Rating:
Summary: A quick reference for aquatic plants' lovers
Review: If you are like me that loves a lushly planted aquarium, this book is helpful as a quick reference guide. It describes the most common species, the origin and their basic care (temperatura, ideal water parameters, etc.) However, note that the info is limited on each species but, as a quick fix source is good enough.

Rating:
Summary: A quick reference for aquatic plants' lovers
Review: If you are like me that loves a lushly planted aquarium, this book is helpful as a quick reference guide. It describes the most common species, the origin and their basic care (temperatura, ideal water parameters, etc.) However, note that the info is limited on each species but, as a quick fix source is good enough.