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Aquarium Designs Inspired by Nature
by: Peter Hiscock |
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Features:
- ISBN13: 9780764155499
- Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
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Price: $18.45
Used Price: $14.49
List price: $27.95
Savings: $9.50
Average Rating: 4.5
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Published: 2003-05
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Editorial review:
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 in the aquarium. Both plants and fish varieties are shown in vivid color photos and described in detail. More than 450 color photos and illustrations.
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from people who have bought this book:
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5 stars. Create your natural environment aquarium.
I had the pet shop where I bought my fish design my first aquarium. Though I liked it at first, I quickly outgrew it. I didn't like all the artificial looking stones and plants. Furthermore, they placed in my aquarium a treasure chest that produced bubbles, and a water-mill. I also had a sunken ship and a deep sea diver's helmet. In other words, a very unnaturally looking aquarium that did not reflect a real environment.
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br /After reading this book, I embarked on my second aquarium. This time, I designed it myself, planting real plants and using driftwood and natural gravel and stones (not artificially colored ones). I made it look close to an Amazonian flooded forest using the pictures in the book as a guideline. The result was amazing!
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br /If you want to create a natural looking aquarium that mimics a real environment, this is the book to read. Plastic plants, artificially colored stones, sunken ships and treasure chests have no place in a real environment aquarium!
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br /The book specifically is about freshwater aquariums. The author first explains how rivers are formed, describing the natural water cycle. He then goes on explaining how mountain streams, lowland streams, tributaries, main rivers, lowland swamps, and brackish waters are created. All this background information is necessary for you in recreating the natural environment in your aquarium.
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br /The author then explains how fishes live and how evolution (though very briefly) works. The anatomy of fish is also briefly explained. The author just gives enough information to the reader to understand the natural environment, and in no way overcomplicates things or tries to be overly descriptive and scientific. He keeps the information very basic and easy to digest (not mentioning enjoyable to read).
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br /The author then introduces the reader to the different substrates available, giving the advantages and disadvantages of each type. He also gives advice on what type of natural decor to use.
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br /The really interesting section is on using live plants. I never really considered using live plants until reading this book. Though much care and maintenance is needed, a live planted aquarium mimics a real environment. It will also be a joy to watch your plants bloom and flower.
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br /Another important section concerns creating the right water conditions for your fish. For example, some fish require a water ph lower than other fish. The temperature of the water is also an important factor. Not all fish have the same water temperature requirement, so you have to carefully choose what fish to mix together.
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br /The book gives great illustrations on how to create your aquarium resembling the following natural environments: Chinese Mountain stream; Central American stream, Central American river; Australian river; European river; European lake; flooded Amazon forest; Amazon acid pool; downriver Amazon; Congo whitewater river; West African stream-bed; Lake Malawi; a darkened cave; Southeast Asian stream; Southeast Asian swamp; Indian river; brackish estuary; and a Mangrove swamp.
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br /After reading this book you will be able to create a natural environment in your aquarium specific to the type of fish you have.
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4 stars. Good, but could be better
Overall, this is a good book. It has impressive pictures of the aquariums as a finished product and plenty of info on how to make them look natural. The problem is, as several stated earlier, it is not always accurate. African plants are used in S. American setups, plants that can't tolerate any salt for an extended period of time are used in brackish setups. If you don't mind these inaccuracies, you can get plenty of ideas for your own aquariums. Amano's Nature Aquarium World books would probably be better for inspiration, but it's not a bad read overall.
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4 stars. Biotopes Explained
I really enjoyed looking through this book. It is simply written with enough information to get someone started in setting up a biotope aquarium. The photos are nice, those of the aquarium setups are large and detailed. The only downside of this book it that it doesn't have enough information on the fish, plants, and invertebrates as I would have liked. An appendix with listing of those things would have made the book nearly perfect. I used it to set up an Asian biotope with Gouramis and Betta. And to set up a Lake Malawi tank with Mbunda.
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5 stars. Excellent Resource
Outstanding book. It helped me visualize the design and layout of my aquarium. An excellent resource for beginners or pros.
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4 stars. More pecific for certain bio types
This book give you more of an idear of setting up aquariums for specific bio types or areas with certain fish and plants. Very good if you want to set up and aquarium with plants and fish and dont quite know where to start and what to do. Even for experienced people you still can learn somthing form this book. Not a stand alone book but partnered with a couple of others is a very good referance .
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