Saltwater Aquarium: Your Happy Healthy Pet

by Gregory Skomal

Overview

The authoritative information and advice you need, illustrated throughout with full-color photographs—now revised and redesigned to be even more reader-friendly!
A saltwater aquarium provides a soothing, ever-changing mini seascape of color and motion. But saltwater fish require a constant, controlled environment. How do you set up and maintain a tank and select the right fish from more than 12,000 varieties? How do you care for marine fish? This updated guide provides the facts and advice you need and includes:

• Info on choosing, equipping, and setting up your aquarium
• Pointers on choosing compatible fish for a community tank
• The scoop on the best (and worst) fish for beginners
• Guidance on maintaining your aquarium and keeping your fish healthy

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620455296
Publisher:	TURNER PUB CO
Publication date:	08/21/2006
Series:	Your Happy Healthy Pet , #74
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	130
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 5.40(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Gregory Skomal is an accomplished marine biologist, underwater explorer, photographer, aquarist, and author. He has been a fisheries biologist with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries since 1987 and currently heads up the Massachusetts Shark Research Program. He has written numerous scientific research papers and has appeared in a number of film and television shark documentaries, including programs for National Geographic, Discovery Channel, and ESPN.
Although his research passion for the last twenty years has been sharks, he is also an avid aquarist and has written eight books on aquarium keeping. His home and laboratory are on the island of Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts.

Read an Excerpt

Click to read or download

Table of Contents

Part I: All About Marine Aquariums.

Chapter 1: Marine Fish Basics.

Aquarium Fish.

Saltwater vs. Freshwater Fishes.

Fish Anatomy.

Senses.

Chapter 2: The Saltwater Aquarium.

Meeting the Needs of Your Fish.

The Tank.

The Aquarium Stand.

The Tank Hood.

The Water.

The Nitrogen Cycle.

Types of Filters.

Aeration.

The Heater.

Lighting.

Inside the Tank.

More Accessories.

Chapter 3: Setting Up Your Aquarium.

Aquarium Maturation.

Bringing Your Fish Home.

Part II: Choosing Your Fish.

Chapter 4: The Community Tank.

A Fish Community.

Picking Out Healthy Fish.

Plan Ahead.

Poor Choices for Beginners.

Reef Tanks.

Chapter 5: The Best (and Worst) Fish for Beginners.

Angelfish.

Blennies.

Butterflyfish.

Cardinalfish.

Clownfish and Damselfish.

Dottybacks.

Gobies.

Puffers.

Rabbitfish.

Surgeonfish and Tangs.

Sweetlips.

Triggerfish.

Wrasses.

Families to Avoid.

Part III: Caring for Your Fish.

Chapter 6: Feeding Your Fish.

Dietary Needs of Fish.

How to Feed Your Fish.

Chapter 7: Maintaining Your Aquarium.

Vacuum.

Check the Filter.

Algae.

Test the Water.

Partial Water Changes.

Maintenance Checklist.

Replace the Gravel.

Chapter 8: Tropical Marine Fish Diseases.

Commercial Remedies.

Treatment Methods.

Common Treatments.

Common Aquarium Diseases.

Appendix: Learning More About Your Saltwater Aquarium.

Clubs.

Books.

Magazines.

Internet.

Index.