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• Cover
• Introduction
• About This Book
• Foolish Assumptions
• Icons Used in This Book
• Where to Go from Here
• Part 1: Getting Started with Freshwater Aquarium Basics
• Chapter 1: Taking the Plunge: Just the Essentials
• Focusing on the Tank, Stand, Accessories, and Equipment
• Caring for Your New Aquatic Pets
• Understanding Water, Chemicals, and Live Plants
• Expanding Your Aquarium Hobby
• Chapter 2: The Practice of Aquarium Keeping
• Recognizing the Amazing Benefits of Owning an Aquarium
• Identifying Aquarium Water Systems
• Organization Is the Key to Success
• Chapter 3: Finding a Good Location
• Making Sure Your Floor Is Sound
• Taking Room Temperature and Its Effects into Consideration
• High Traffic Areas, Children, and Pets (Spell D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R)
• Contemplating Your Water Source When Placing Your Aquarium
• Thinking about Other Household Items
• Chapter 4: The Tank and Stand
• Buying a Tank: What You Need to Know
• Examining the Different Types of Aquariums Available
• Considering Different and Unusual Aquarium Styles
• Choosing the Right Tank
• Picking the Right Stand
• Moving an Aquarium
• Chapter 5: Aquascaping Your Aquarium: What to Add and Not Add in Your Tank
• Taking Clues from Your Fish’s Natural Environment
• Getting the Lowdown on Substrates
• Considering Rocks, Wood, and Artificial Plants
• Contemplating Other Aquarium Decorations
• Aquascaping Tips and Tricks
• Chapter 6: Selecting the Equipment and Other Stuff Your Aquarium Needs
• Taking the Mystery out of Filters
• Sifting through Filtration Systems
• Gauging Heaters and Thermometers
• Making Bubbles with Airstones and Pumps
• Connecting Tubing, Valves, and Tees
• Creating the Best Lighting
• Part 2: Taking a Closer Look at Fish and How to Care for Them
• Chapter 7: Fish Anatomy 101
• Understanding What Makes a Fish Go
• Breathing In and Out — Respiration
• Getting Acquainted with the Senses
• Comprehending Osmosis and the Salt-to-Water Ratio
• Recognizing Traits to Identify Fish
• Chapter 8: Figuring Out What Kind of Fish to Buy
• Looking Closer at Freshwater Fish
• Contemplating Coldwater Fish and Invertebrates
• Thinking about Captive-Bred Species
• Buying Fish Online
• Chapter 9: Working with a Fish Dealer to Purchase Your Fish
• Choosing a Quality Fish Dealer
• Dealer Practices: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
• Developing a Good Relationship with Your Fish Dealer
• Selecting Healthy Fish
• Getting the Right Fish without Going Overboard
• Chapter 10: Feeding Your Wet Pets — Diet and Nutrition
• Understanding Basic Nutrition
• Knowing What Type of Eater You Have
• Identifying the Different Types of Food
• Feeding Fry
• Chapter 11: Recognizing Diseases and Treatments
• An Ounce of Prevention …
• Identifying Common Ailments and Cures
• Keeping an Eye Open for Frequent Causes of Disease
• Relying on a Tried-and-True Home Remedy: Giving a Salt Bath
• Playing Detective: The Sherlock Holmes Method
• Using Quarantine Tanks
• Setting Up a Hospital Tank
• Understanding Medications
• Part 3: The Background Players: Water, Chemicals, and Plants
• Chapter 12: All Water Isn’t Created Equal
• Comparing Different Water Types
• Collecting Water from Bodies of Water (Why You Want to Forget This Bad Idea)
• Adding Water to Your Aquarium
• Chapter 13: Considering Those Crazy Chemicals
• Understanding Chemical Use
• Knowing Which Chemicals You Need to Start Your Aquarium
• Maintaining Your Aquarium: Chemicals to Use
• Using the Right Chemicals for Your Plants
• Naming Chemicals Your Fish Need for Medication
• Chapter 14: The Nitrogen Cycle and Water Testing
• Eliminating Fish Waste
• Conditioning Your Tank
• Starting the Nitrogen Cycle
• Testing Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, and pH
• Testing Hardness (dH)
• Chapter 15: Putting It All Together
• Setting Up Your Tropical Freshwater System
• Setting Up a Small Plant Tank
• Setting Up Your Coldwater System
• Setting Up Your Simple Indoor Goldfish Pond
• Chapter 16: What You Need to Know: Live Plants for Aquariums
• Understanding What Live Plants Do for Your Aquarium
• Identifying Different Plant Types
• Maintaining Plant-Friendly Aquarium Conditions
• Purchasing and Transporting Your Plants
• Noticing Potential Plant Problems
• Planting Techniques and Aquascaping
• Chapter 17: Choosing Plant Species for Your Tank
• Considering Foreground Plants
• Looking at Midwater Plants
• Contemplating Background Plants
• Going with Floating Plants
• Envisioning Pond Plants
• Starting with Some Easy Plants
• Part 4: Breeding and Other Fun Stuff
• Chapter 18: Being Prepared When Trouble Strikes
• Tackling Physical Fish Problems
• Correcting Feeding Problems
• Addressing Equipment Problems
• Facing Tank and Decoration Problems
• Confronting Water Problems
• Chapter 19: Setting Up the Breeding Tank
• Deciding to Breed Your Aquarium Fish
• Choosing Your Equipment for Breeding
• Getting the Water Right
• Chapter 20: Ready, Set, Spawn
• Introducing the Bride and Groom
• Understanding Breeding Types
• Saving Everyone from Everyone Else
• Raising the Fry
• Understanding Genetics
• Choosing the Right Species for You
• Chapter 21: Recording Data and Photographing Fish
• Keeping a Logbook
• Making Your Fish the Stars They Were Meant to Be
• Knowing Where to Take Pictures
• Photographing Your Fish with Digital Photography
• Photographing Your Fish the Old-Fashioned Way
• Considering Lighting
• Focusing Your Camera
• Understanding Composition Techniques
• Shooting the Tank
• Chapter 22: Expanding Your Hobby in Fun Ways
• Entering a Fish Show
• Getting to Know the Types of Shows
• Preparing Your Fish for the Show
• Transporting Fish to and from a Show
• Remembering to Have Fun
• Joining an Aquarium Club
• Volunteering at an Aquarium or Zoo
• Writing an Article
• Setting Up a Tank for a Worthy Cause
• Sharing Your Love of Aquariums and Science with Others
• Chapter 23: Advancing Your Hobby: Other Types of Aquarium Systems
• Trying a Brackish Aquarium Setup
• Considering a Marine Aquarium System
• Comparing Freshwater and Saltwater Systems
• Part 5: The Part of Tens
• Chapter 24: Ten Cool Aquarium Gadgets
• Aquarium Claws (Those Handy Picker-Upper Doodads) to Move Decor
• Algae Cleaners to Keep Dry
• Extendable Fish Nets, the Long and Short of It
• A Tool Box for Storing Stuff
• Light Timers for the Win
• Aquarium Sealer (Flood Insurance)
• Aquascaping Tools to Make You a Star
• Digital Water Testing Makes It Easy
• Automatic Gravel Cleaners Do the Job
• Aquarium Smart Controllers (Spy on Your Fish)
• Chapter 25: Ten Ways to Kill Your Fish without Even Trying
• Go Away on Vacation and Forget Them
• Play Doctor without a License
• Give Your Cat a Sushi Bar
• Stuff Your Fish with Seven-Course Meals
• Mix Apples and Oranges
• Add Too Many Fish (the Shoehorn Syndrome)
• Don’t Do Your Homework
• Let the Neighbor’s Unruly Kid Play with Your Fish
• Become a Hypochondriac Hobbyist
• Buy Used or Cheap Equipment
• Chapter 26: Ten Scientific Fish Laws
• The Fish Law of Thermodynamics
• The Fish Law of Metamorphosis
• The Fish Law of Motion
• The Fish Law of Anti-Matter
• The Fish Law of Nutrition
• The Fish Law of Company
• The Fish Law of Potential Energy
• The Fish Law of Psychic Felines
• The Fish Law of Aggression
• The Fish Law of Time
• Chapter 27: Ten Aquatic New Year’s Resolutions
• Feed the Fish the Good Stuff
• Clean the Tank Frequently
• Reduce Celibacy
• Remove Algae
• Monitor Filter Mediums
• Turn on the Lights
• Use My Test Kits
• Pay Attention to My Fish
• Redecorate the Tank
• Share with Others
• Index
• About the Author
• Advertisement Page
• Supplemental Images
• Connect with Dummies
• End User License Agreement