Bring Me Home! Saltwater Aquariums Make a Great Hobby

John H. Tullock

Description

THE BOOK TO BRING HOME BEFORE YOU BRING HOME A SALTWATER AQUARIUM!

This book is a great way to test the waters before you take the plunge. Saltwater aquariums are intriguing, mesmerizing, and relaxing. However, they do require a commitment of time and money. Are you up for the challenge? With this practical, hands-on guide, you'll know what to expect. You'll have information on choosing the aquarium, equipment, and fish; proper setup and maintenance; and more. Information and interactive features include:

WORKSHEETS that help you make informed decisions

QUESTIONS to help you determine if your family is ready for a saltwater aquarium

CHARTS showing the time and money required for setting up and maintaining a 30-gallon tank or larger unit

CHECKLISTS covering how to properly locate the aquarium, supplies needed, and more

AIDS for creating a timetable and a stocking plan

MAINTENANCE CHARTS to keep you organized

RESOURCES to keep in a notebook with your maintenance logs, fish purchasing records, and more

Bring Me Home! Saltwater Aquariums Make a Great Hobby covers feeding fish and invertebrates, common mistakes and how to avoid them, creating a reef habitat, and more. It's a reference you'll rely on again and again if you decide to dive into this rewarding hobby.
Introduction.

Chapter 1: Are You Ready to Get a Saltwater Aquarium?

Lifestyle Impacts.

Time Commitment.

Financial Commitment.

Learning Commitment.

Is a Saltwater Aquarium Right for Your Family?

Chapter 2: Designing Your Saltwater Aquarium.

Planning Basics.

Philosophy of the Natural Aquarium.

Minireef or Fish-Only?

What You’ll Need.

What You May Want.

Where to Find Equipment and Supplies.

How to Recognize Quality Saltwater Fish.

Getting Ready.

Chapter 3: Understanding How a Saltwater Aquarium Works.

Physical and Chemical Cycles.

Overview of the Coral Reef Environment.

Let Nature Take Its Course.

Chapter 4 Stocking Your Tank I: Fish.

The Best Home Aquarium Fish.

Getting to Know Fish.

Who Lives with Whom?

Saltwater Fish Families.

Popular Species for Fish-Only Tanks.

Reef-Compatible Fish Species.

Some Fish to Avoid.

Chapter 5: Stocking Your Tank II: Invertebrates.

Invertebrate Groups.

Invertebrate Roles in the Aquarium Community.

Live Rock.

Live Sand.

Utilitarian Invertebrates.

Photosynthetic Invertebrates.

Clownfish Host Anemones.

Nonphotosynthetic Invertebrates.

Seaweeds.

Some Invertebrates to Avoid.

Chapter 6: Stocking Your Tank III: Putting It All Together.

Developing a Stocking Plan.

Some Examples to Get You Started.

Create Your Own Stocking Plan.

Chapter 7: Setting Up Your Tank.

Setting Up a Quarantine Tank.

Basic Setup for a Small Tank.

Accommodating an Anemone.

Setting Up a Larger System.

Acclimating New Arrivals.

Creating a Fish-Only Tank.

Creating a Reef Habitat.

Chapter 8: Keeping Your Aquarium Healthy.

Avoiding Maintenance Headaches.

Feeding Fish.

Feeding Invertebrates.

Water Changes.

Mixing Synthetic Seawater.

Water Tests.

Equipment Maintenance.

The “Hurricane Effect”.

Record Keeping.

Family Aquarium Maintenance Routine.

Chapter 9: Keeping Your Fish and Invertebrates Healthy.

Why Problems Happen.

When Should I Medicate the Fish?

Invertebrate Parasites and Diseases.

Special Considerations for Reef Tanks.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Chapter 10: Your Aquarium as Part of the Family.

Daily Care.

On Vacation.

Relocating.

Appendix A: Useful Resources.

How to Use this Appendix.

Equipment and Maintenance Record.

Specimen Acquisition Record.

Tank Sitter Journal.

Fish Hospital Record.

Saltwater Aquarium Log.

Appendix B: Saltwater Fish and Invertebrates Sold for Home Aquariums.

Appendix C: Glossary.

Appendix D: Additional Saltwater Aquarium Resources.

Periodicals.

Organizations.

Books.

Coloring Page.

Index.

Sujets

• Aquariums
• Pets
• Fish

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 05 mai 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780470364888
• Langue: English

Extrait

SALTWATER AQUARIUMS make A GREAT HOBBY
SALTWATER AQUARIUMS make A GREAT HOBBY
John Tullock
Copyright 2006 by John Tullock. All rights reserved.
Howell Book House
Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
All color insert photos by Aaron Norman.
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2005024425
ISBN-13 978-0-470-36488-8
ISBN-10 0-7645-9659-4
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Book design by Melissa Auciello-Brogan
Cover design by Suzanne Sunwoo
Book production by Wiley Publishing, Inc. Composition Services
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1 Are You Ready to Get a Saltwater Aquarium?
Lifestyle Impacts
Time Commitment
Financial Commitment
Learning Commitment
Is a Saltwater Aquarium Right for Your Family?
Chapter 2 Designing Your Saltwater Aquarium
Planning Basics
Philosophy of the Natural Aquarium
Minireef or Fish-Only?
What You ll Need
What You May Want
Where to Find Equipment and Supplies
How to Recognize Quality Saltwater Fish
Getting Ready
Chapter 3 Understanding How a Saltwater Aquarium Works

Physical and Chemical Cycles
Overview of the Coral Reef Environment
Let Nature Take Its Course
Chapter 4 Stocking Your Tank I: Fish
The Best Home Aquarium Fish
Getting to Know Fish
Who Lives with Whom?
Saltwater Fish Families
Popular Species for Fish-Only Tanks
Reef-Compatible Fish Species
Some Fish to Avoid
Chapter 5 Stocking Your Tank II: Invertebrates
Invertebrate Groups
Invertebrate Roles in the Aquarium Community
Live Rock
Live Sand
Utilitarian Invertebrates
Photosynthetic Invertebrates
Clownfish Host Anemones
Nonphotosynthetic Invertebrates
Seaweeds
Some Invertebrates to Avoid
Chapter 6 Stocking Your Tank III: Putting It All Together

Developing a Stocking Plan
Some Examples to Get You Started
Create Your Own Stocking Plan
Chapter 7 Setting Up Your Tank
Setting Up a Quarantine Tank
Basic Setup for a Small Tank
Accommodating an Anemone
Setting Up a Larger System
Acclimating New Arrivals
Creating a Fish-Only Tank
Creating a Reef Habitat
Chapter 8 Keeping Your Aquarium Healthy
Avoiding Maintenance Headaches
Feeding Fish
Feeding Invertebrates
Water Changes
Mixing Synthetic Seawater
Water Tests
Equipment Maintenance
The Hurricane Effect
Record Keeping
Family Aquarium Maintenance Routine
Chapter 9 Keeping Your Fish and Invertebrates Healthy

Why Problems Happen
When Should I Medicate the Fish?
Invertebrate Parasites and Diseases
Special Considerations for Reef Tanks
Frequently Asked Questions
Chapter 10 Your Aquarium as Part of the Family
Daily Care
On Vacation
Relocating
Appendix A Useful Resources
How to Use this Appendix
Equipment and Maintenance Record
Specimen Acquisition Record
Tank Sitter Journal
Fish Hospital Record
Saltwater Aquarium Log
Appendix B Saltwater Fish and Invertebrates Sold for Home Aquariums
Appendix C Glossary
Appendix D Additional Saltwater Aquarium Resources
Periodicals
Organizations
Books
Coloring Page
Index
Introduction
So you want to own a saltwater aquarium? Saltwater aquariums are extremely popular-but they re not for everyone. After reading this book, you ll understand a bit more about what it takes to own a saltwater aquarium and find out if there s one in your future. You ll learn the basics of saltwater aquarium ownership and what you need to do to find the right equipment and healthy fish. Unlike many guides that focus on simple saltwater aquarium ownership, I focus on how a saltwater aquarium will fit into your family and your life.
This book is intended for the first-time aquarium owner and also for the family looking to add an aquarium to their lives. Inside are checklists, tips, and questionnaires that will help you decide what to do when planning, setting up, and stocking your saltwater aquarium. These tools help you focus on what it takes to own a saltwater aquarium and help you assess your family s-and your saltwater aquarium s-particular situation. Expect to find: Worksheets that help you figure out if you re ready for a saltwater aquarium, assist you in finding the right saltwater aquarium, and give important questions to ask dealers. Checklists to help you find a suitable location in your house for your saltwater aquarium, figure out what equipment and supplies you need, and decide between a fish-only and a minireef saltwater aquarium Information on how to deal with problems, as well as guidelines for proper nutrition for your saltwater aquarium, and common saltwater aquarium mistakes and how to avoid them. Step-by-step instructions for setting up and stocking your saltwater aquarium
I hope you use this book as an interactive resource to turn to again and again to help with your decision-making and organization. Each chapter opens and closes with a bulleted list that guides you through the chapter at a glance.
At the back of the book is an appendix titled Useful Resources. I encourage you to photocopy the forms, punch holes in them using a three-hole punch, and put them in a three-ring binder labeled Aquarium Records, along with some sheet protectors where you can keep vital records and information about your saltwater aquarium handy at all times. I also include chore lists that you can post on the refrigerator and refer to at any time. As your saltwater aquarium becomes a part of your family, you ll find yourself constantly referring to the notebook. When was the last water change? How did things go with the tank sitter? Do you remember when the anemonefish laid eggs? All of these things and more make up your saltwater aquarium s life and should be written in your notebook. These will enhance your aquarium ownership experience.
With the tools and resources I provide for you, I hope you find the experience of owning a saltwater aquarium an enjoyable one.
Chapter 1
Are You Ready to Get a Saltwater Aquarium?

What s Inside
Learn how much time you need to devote to a saltwater aquarium.
Learn how much money you ll spend on an aquarium.
Learn what kind of knowledge you ll need to maintain an aquarium.
Learn if an aquarium will make a good fit for you and your family.
Few places on earth captivate our senses as do coral reefs, the rainforests of the sea. In the last few decades keeping colorful reef fish and invertebrates in aquariums has become possible for home hobbyists. New technologies and techniques make it easier than ever before to re-create a reef ecosystem in miniature in your living room or den. But before you decide to embrace the saltwater aquarium hobby, you should give some serious thought to the undertaking. A saltwater aquarium requires investing a considerable amount of time and money as well as making the effort to learn about marine organisms and their biology. If you hope to achieve a deep sense of accomplishment watching the ocean s denizens behave in your den as they behave on an authentic reef, considering these factors first is a must.
Lifestyle Impacts
Just as getting a dog or a cat will change your daily routine, getting a saltwater aquarium will alter your life. For example, you ll need