Saltwater Aquariums for Dummies

Dive into the wonderful world of saltwater fish

Setting up and keeping a healthy, thriving saltwater aquarium—and the gorgeous creatures that live within it—takes a lot more know-how than you might realize. Fortunately, this friendly and informative guide is here to make having a slice of the salty life in your own home easier than ever! 

This fully updated edition of Saltwater Aquariums For Dummies explains in plain English how to care for a variety of marine fish and invertebrates, upkeep a tank, feed your saltwater friends, and stay informed of the latest technology in luxury tanks!

• Understand aquarium set up best practices
• Maintain a thriving aquatic environment
• Build the luxury saltwater tank of your dreams
• Be inspired by a full-color insert

Whether you’re looking for basic information on how to set-up, start, and maintain a saltwater aquarium or already own one and want to whet your appetite with the latest tips, tricks, and design ideas, this book covers the gamut!  

Gregory Skomal, PhD, is an experienced aquarist and Marine Fisheries Biologist at Martha's Vineyard Fisheries, Division of Marine Fisheries, Massachusetts. He's been keeping saltwater aquariums since childhood and has shared his extensive knowledge with viewers of National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, NBC's Today, and other media.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started with Saltwater Aquarium Basics 5

Chapter 1: Taking Your First Salty Steps 7

Chapter 2: Some Things Fishy 17

Chapter 3: Choosing the Best Fish for You 41

Chapter 4: Looking Closer at Invertebrates 67

Chapter 5: Going from the Dealer to Your Home 93

Part 2: Setting Up Your Aquarium 101

Chapter 6: Selecting the Best Aquarium That Meets Your Needs 103

Chapter 7: Figuring Out Filters 115

Chapter 8: Heating and Lighting Your Aquarium 141

Chapter 9: Decorating Your Tank — Fishy Furnishings and Finishing Touches 159

Chapter 10: Partial to Salt — The Brackish Aquarium 185

Chapter 11: Getting Your Aquarium Up and Running 193

Part 3: Taking Proper Care of Your Aquarium 201

Chapter 12: Tackling the Nitrogen Cycle 203

Chapter 13: Considering Chemistry: Salt, Acidity, and Gases 211

Chapter 14: The Lowdown on Algae 221

Chapter 15: Keeping Your Aquarium Clean and Handling Issues 233

Part 4: Caring for Your Fish 247

Chapter 16: Feeding Your Fish 249

Chapter 17: Preventing Stress 263

Chapter 18: Playing Fish Doctor — Diseases and Treatments 273

Chapter 19: Observing Your Fish 285

Part 5: The Part of Tens 293

Chapter 20: Ten Fish to Avoid 295

Chapter 21: Ten Invertebrates to Avoid 299

Chapter 22: Ten (Plus More) Simple Metric Conversions 303

Chapter 23: Ten Great Public Saltwater Aquariums 307

Part 6: The Appendixes 311

Appendix A: Additional Resources Every Saltwater Aquarist Needs 313

Appendix B: Glossary 317

Index 323

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The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.