Product Description
Creating a beautiful, thriving first saltwater aquarium has never been easier, using the natural, simplified methods learned and practiced by the world's leading reef hobbyists.By helping newcomers avoid the pitfalls of outdated, high-maintenance filtration techniques, the author offers an easy-to-follow route to long-term success with live rock, appropriate equipment, aquascaping, disease prevention, and essential husbandry techniques.Includes a photographic guide to selecting fishes, with dozens of hardy choices that are highly recommended for beginning hobbyists or others wanting beautiful, interesting, and long-lived marine species. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (78)

A tad dated, but excellent overall
Love the parts about corals and fishes and their interactions or lack thereof. Compared to some other more recent books, the "hardware" advice is a bit dated...or perhaps more elementary than a serious hobbyist would appreciate. For example, another book I own suggests that having a sump system is THE WAY to go, and local stores are in agreement.

Fantastic Beginning Guide
This is an immense resource for any beginning marine aquarist. It is practically essential to purchase this before beginning any of your purchases for the aquarium itself. This can help ensure success from the beginning of your tank and for years to come a very thorough beginner's resource. If you are an advance aquarist this is a handy guide, though there may be more advanced manuals that would suit your tastes better.

New Marine Aquarium - Excellent guide for beginner or intermediate level
Chock full of excellent advice, descriptions, and photos.Covers all the basics and then goes into more detail.Excellent read before you start and a very good reference as you grow your hobby.

Very good book
Very good book.We also purchased the "Complete Idiot's Guide . . . " which is much more helpful for a tank setup.

out dated
I would have to say that this book is out dated and the info it does offer is very basic. would be ok for someone with just a passing interest in the hobby. But if you plan to set up a full reef I would look else were ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (69)

Wild Boar trapped!
Neither Laura Ling nor Euna Lee spent time in a North Korean labour camp, yet a boy and his family spent nearly ten years in such confinement from 1977 to 1987. The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag by Kang Chol-Hwan and Pierre Rigoulot tells the story of nine-year-old Kang and his family who were forced to uproot their lives with no advance notice and make the trip to the remote Yodok concentration camp.

Kang's family's only crime was sharing the same household with his grandfather, whose crimes against the state remain a mystery. The grandfather was abducted at work and never saw his family again. We learn from Aquariums that he was sent to a more brutal concentration camp, where he later died. Meanwhile, everyone who shared the same household as the "counterrevolutionary" grandfather had to pay the price of cohabiting with a rebel to the state. The entire extended family, including uncles and children, regardless of age, were sent to Yodok. Aquariums contains one family photo at the front of the book, and when I read the caption I honestly thought that there must have been a printing error, since the caption read: "Author (right), age 19, one year after his release from the Yodok labor camp...". I did not believe, nor could I imagine, that North Korea would send a child to a labour camp. I thought that the age must have been wrong; surely Kang was 29 in the photo and not 19. As I read Aquariums I soon realized that the caption was accurate and Kang, as well as his then seven-year-old sister, both suffered for a decade in a concentration camp.

The suffering endured by the family, and the children especially, will break your heart. There were times when I was afraid to turn the page for fear of what barbaric brutality the children would suffer, or witness, next. Not since American Psycho have I been so fearful of turning a page: and this is a true story. The family lived in a small cabin and barely survived on starvation rations of corn. And only corn. Thus deficiency diseases prevailed, like pellagra, and the family supplemented their diet by catching rats, salamanders, worms and insects, which in turn cured their pellagra.

Yodok life was nonstop work and Party indoctrination. Children under fifteen went to morning school, where they learned quickly that the teachers didn't care for them. The students could quite easily preoccupy themselves silently with something else during class, or even doze off, and the teachers couldn't be bothered. Since Kang's school life before Yodok involved listening to and memorizing speeches by the Great Leader Kim Il Sung, he did not find such Party indoctrination at Yodok out of the ordinary. The savagery inflicted upon the students in the labour camp after class, however, had the opposite effect of what the Party indoctrination hoped to accomplish:

"A couple of years was all it took for the camp to utterly change a child. Instead of turning us into stalwart admirers of our Great Leader's regime, as it was intended to do, the camp taught us how to rebel, jeer, and mock anything vaguely whiffing of authority. Within a year or two of arriving, a prisoner lost every scintilla of respect he might have had for the Party. Our disdain spread like gangrene, beginning with the guards, then slowly, inexorably, making its way up to the great leaders."

One was constantly watched at the camp, and not only by armed guards, but also by fellow prisoners, who were compelled to "snitch" on their neighbours. Those who were selected to be snitches could not refuse, and although they were supposed to be invisible and blend in with the inmates, it did not take a long time for camp residents to figure out who among them was telling the authorities. Everyone had to watch what he said and learned that the best thing to do was to say nothing, no matter how innocuous a remark might seem. When Kang sees a woman crying over a recently deceased relative, he writes:

"...I came across a group of people from my village standing around a woman who was loudly weeping and venting her sorrows about something. As I joined the crowd, I gathered she was lamenting the death of a relative, whose body was apparently still in the family hut. "Ah, why did you die so quickly?" she kept saying. "Why did you depart this cursed world?" The unhappy woman must not have noticed that a well-known snitch was in the crowd, as well as the leader of one of the work brigades. Her son, who was also there, saw the danger and tried desperately to catch her eye. It took him a while, but he finally did it, at which point the mother did a complete turnabout. "Oh," she continued without the slightest transition, "why did you leave this world, which had become so happy under the wise governance of our Great Leader?" No one dared to laugh, but after that, neither could anyone cry."

Children were made to attend public executions and participate in the stoning of deceased hanged corpses. Public executions also included death by firing squad and Kang's accounts of these experiences will turn your stomach.

In spite of the daily horror of concentration camp life, Kang managed a rare smile in his ten years of incarceration. I will quote a paragraph that, while disgusting in content, produced a literal rolling-on-the-ground laughing episode:

"I remember another informant at Yodok whose specialty was snitching on kids. Once, we decided to exact our revenge by setting a trap for him at a spot he crossed several times a day. There, we dug a hole resembling the fugitive trap we had once discovered up in the mountains. In place of sharpened stakes, we filled the ditch with excrement from the latrines. The trick seemed easy and risk free. As luck had it, the infamous Wild Boar came along first and wound up burying his foot ankle-deep in feces. We saw the whole thing from our little hiding place, and now had every reason to try to keep our location secret; but our teacher was so outraged and was having such a hard time extricating himself from the mess that we just couldn't restrain ourselves. We started laughing so hard we cried. Within a minute he had us collared and was giving us the thrashing of a lifetime. When he was done, he ordered us to scoop out all the excrement by hand and carry it over to the neighbouring garden plots, where it would serve as fertilizer for the guards' summer vegetables. The abominable chore took days, during which time several of us saw our hands break out in strange-looking pimples and blisters."

Kang and his family are released from Yodok after ten years, and the final third of the book deals with his life as a civilian and as a former political prisoner in North Korea. He and a friend listened to contraband South Korean radio and local snitches inform the authorities, which leads Kang and his friend to make the decision to escape to China. The crime of listening to Southern radio is a sentence to a labour camp, and since Kang and his friend were already both former camp detainees, if they are reapprehended they would face a more brutal concentration camp, from where no one is ever released, or death by execution.

It is suspenseful to read about Kang's escape into China, and of his travels throughout China on the underground railroad. Since travel within North Korea is severely restricted even to its own citizens, Kang could not access the northern border region without causing suspicion. Kang fortunately came from a wealthy family and he used his money to bribe North Korean guards, train conductors and ordinary people. According to Kang, the entire North Korean regime is run by greased palms, and by this form of corruption, it is more "capitalist" than the Southern regime the Kim dynasty despises.

Aquariums is a translation from the original French and translator Yair Reiner made the story sound so alive and full of adolescent phraseology that I would never have guessed that its original language was not English. I recommend The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag, which is so far the only first-hand account of life in a North Korean labour camp.

A painstaking account of prison life
This is a thoughtful and well-detailed account of life in a gulag, told by a defector who originally was released from the prison.I was surprised by the level of detail surrounding the daily life of a prisoner in North Korea and recommend this book if you are interested in a small but important aspect of North Korean life.

The author did not start or end the book in prison; rather, he gave the book some context by showing how he wound up in the gulag.It is this context that is very important because the author implies that the road to the gulag can be as arbitrary and bizarre as the people who run it.The reader learns early on that family is a core aspect of life in North Korea, and the book's development and breakdown of human bonds in prison is the work's greatest strength.

Of course, this is a memoir about a secretive country so there is little that can be done to fact-check a literary work like this one.Even the author admits that many of the stories he heard about other people were based upon a lot of hearsay.One could also sense the palpable hatred that the author had for the North Korean government, which is understandable given what he went through.The painstaking level of detail in this work makes it very credible as well as informative.

Incredible Story From a Recluse Nation
This is an incredible story written by a person who survived ten years growing up in a North Korean concentration camp for being the family member of an alleged traitor/spy.The author provides vivid details of what it is like to live under the rule of an oppressive nation.

While reading this book and imagining yourself in the author's place you will get chills thinking about what it would be like for you and your family to be so severely oppressed and brainwashed.The book will also show how helpless you can be if you don't take control of your own fate.

This is truly an amazing story and if you've ever complained about living in the United States you should read this book.After reading this book I couldn't help but thank God (and I'm not that religious) that I live in the United States and not some god forsaken country like North Korea.You really will appreciate all that you have after reading this.

Unforgettable
I purchased this book nearly two years ago and found the story so compelling and so moving that I've recommended it to many friends and coworkers.The fact that this story is true and that these types of atrocities continue make the book unforgettable.You don't have to have an interest in communism, human rights, or even North Korea to connect to this book and to its author.It's simply a story of incredible sorrow and survival - but it will definitely open your eyes to the lives of North Koreans.It's a book that will stay with you long after the last page has been read.

Shocking very dark reality
What a messed up, bizarrely horrific leadership which attempts to run that country! It's amazing the people of North Korea accept this rule which is beyond evil. Trulyeye opening, more people need to be informed what is going on in North Korea. ... Read more

Product Description
Beautiful, bizarre, and among nature's most colorful creations, living corals are now being successfully kept and grown in a rapidly growing number of home reef aquariums. Designed to help new and experienced aquarists to select the most appropriate corals for their systems and to provide guidance in keeping them healthy for the long term, this all-new book is packed with the advice of a seasoned coral keeper. More than 700 world-class full-color photographs and text reviewed by leading coral biologists and reef aquarists guide the reader through the selection and husbandry of hundreds of species including soft corals, corallimorpharians (mushroom corals), gorgonians, zoanthids, large-polyp stony corals, and small-polyp stony corals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (67)

This is most likely the ONLY coral book you need!
I've read a lot of books on coral husbandry, selection, and placement. Most authors consider themselves and their "way" of thinking to be the end-all. This is NOT true with Eric H. Borneman. From the beginning, you are told by Mr. Borneman that his methods are not the end-all and that many methods are good and worth investigating. Instead, he fills this wonderful book with advice, tips, and most of all, his extreme experience with coral. I have actually read this book twice and it's filled with highlighted sections. This book has changed the way I see reef keeping and coral husbandry. Best of all, Eric's book taught me about the corals; where they came from, and what they are. This book is a MUST!!!

ULTIMATE CORAL BOOK!!!
Im a newbie when it comes to Marine.

But this Book is the Ultimate Book when you want to learn about all types of CORALS!!!

I highly recommend this book and the amount you paid is nothing compared to the contents of this book...

Well done!

awesome
Reads like a college level text book.Very informative, very well thought out.Had good pics as well.Would most definitely recommend to a friend, actually already have recommended to a friend.Get it if you want to learn more about caring for corals.

An excellent up to date resource for the marine hobbyist!
Eric's Borneman's CORALS is an excellent resource for the advanced and beginner hobbyist alike. It provides beautiful photos and detailed descriptions of corals in their native habitat as well as their place in our aquariums. The information is as up to date as you could hope from any book and the information invaluable. It's neatly organized and makes great use of it's large glossary which makes it's an easy and education read.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a reef aquarium or corals in general. It is easily my favorite aquarium book and most referenced.

Perfect book starters or experts
This book defintely lived up to my expectations. Lots of photos, captions, and detailed descriptions. ... Read more

Product Description
This heavily illustrated volume will prove a blessing to every aquarium hobbyist who has had to settle for superficial plant descriptions in general fish-keeping books. It presents a detailed A-to-Z directory covering hundreds of aquarium plants with high quality color photos and succinct profiles of each plant. Information includes the plant’s common name, botanical designation, growth cycle, and general description. The book’s additional sections offer details on how to grow and propagate aquatic plants, and how to protect them from parasites and other problems. This handsome volume features approximately 450 color photos and illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Title is Misleading
If you're just starting a planted tank this book is for you. There is a lot of general information but not as much advanced info as I would have liked. It would have been nice to see a better breakdown of specific tank types ( Dutch, Amano, etc ), and the equipment and fertilization schedules used. All in all it does contain quite a bit of useful information for the beginner to novice aquarist. To call it an encyclopedia of any sort is a huge stretch.

Great book
I would say it has all the information you need about planted aquariums. It is very understandable and easy to read, not to mention that it continues also basic information on how to setup a tank. Maybe you can ask for more detail pictures but is not that necessary.

Excellent 1st Book on Aquarium Plants
I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for general information about aquarium plants. It covers the basic in a clear, consise way, using images whenever possible to illustrate what is being explained. The book' structure is logical and simple to follow, and pretty much anything you need to know to get started is covered.

The only minor complaint I might have is on the aquascaping chapter. The author uses drawings to explain various projects, where high-quality pictures would have been preferable, or, even better, both. Not a big deal at all, but its just that the real impact of aquascaping cannot be conveyed adequately through drawings in my opinion. And so it's hard to foresee how the author's suggested scapes would look in reality.

Highly recommended for beginners.

Excellent resource
This book has wonderful photos, diagrams, drawings and pictures of various kinds of aquariums.Lots of information about water chemistry and plant functions and about specific plants.Plenty of fish recommendations
as well.Very, very good resource for aquarium hobbyists.

Outstanding!
I purchased this book to learn some up to date info on freshwater aquarium plants in hopes of creating some biotope style aquariums. I have been an aquarist for 45 years and have owned my own aquarium store back in the 70s. Once receiving the book and just glancing through it I was completely amazed at not only its excellent treatment of the main subject but also the abundance of fantastic info on practically all aspects of setting up & maintaining a successful aquarium. If anyone is just starting out with aquariums & wanted to buy just one book about the subject I would suggest they buy this book. You will not be disappointed! ... Read more

Product Description
This book is your recipe for saltwater aquarium success. The key is choosing fish, invertebrates, seaweeds, and corals that coexist in harmony. This guide covers the basics of setup, maintenance, and design. It includes more than forty specific recipes for saltwater aquariums, a 16-page color catalog of fish, invertebrate, and coral varieties, and information on more than 100 saltwater fish. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good model info
This was not exactly what I was looking for but does have some good information.It gives a number of examples of how one would set up an aquarium using fish and rock or corals, etc.Nice pics of some amazing fish as well.

A must have for beginners!
This is a very informative and helpful book for any beginner who wants to set up a saltwater aquarium!

Recent book purchase
As usual, I was pleased with Amazon delivering in a timely manner just what I expected. The book was a holiday gift. He was pleased. It's very good in text and illustrations for someone just starting out in the hobby.

I got the hint from his wife and in 5 minutes online picked out what I wanted and off it went. I always look in Amazon first before making any purchase. ... Read more

Product Description

First published in 2001, The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums has become the bestselling reference in its category, offering an easy-to-understand look at setting up and maintaining a successful first freshwater aquarium.

Now in a completely revised second edition, The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums offers comprehensive and authoritative information that will guide new hobbyists to guaranteed success. Written by a renowned aquarium hobby expert, this indispensable guide contains many ideas for tank setups and stocking schemes—with brand new text that makes the subject material even easier to access and understand for the beginner hobbyist. An all-new preface reflects changes in the hobby since the first edition, while two brand new chapters discuss the benefits of routine large water changes as well as what to expect when progressing further into aquarium keeping. The book also adds mention of all new species that are especially recommended for beginners, plus over 150 full-color photos, captions,
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Straight Forward and Comprehensive Guide
I found this book to be a comprehensive guide to all aspects of starting and maintaining an aquarium. There are many commom sense suggestions to help someone be successful to first time. I especially found the fish groupings helpful. They were explanatory about the number and type of fish that would work together.

Beginners Guide To Freshwater Aquarium
I think the book has everything a beginner needs to properly set up a freshwater aquarium. Very helpful!

Good book for starting an aquarium
This book was easy to read and understand.I found that I had more knowledge of the nitrogen cycle and other freshwater subjects than seasoned aquarium owners. My fish are doing great despite the advice of my local pet store owner who doesn't understand the nitrogen cycle.

Add my voice to the chorus -- a great book!
I really enjoyed this book, and it has provided lots of good advice as I've set up a family aquarium.I dabbled a bit as a teenager, with varying success (some tries my aquarium lasted a year, other times I definitely got new tank syndrome and they all died).Now that I'm a bit older, I wanted to set up an aquarium for my son't 4-year old birthday that we could all enjoy, and I wanted to make sure I did it right.

This book is written in a very accessible manner, as if the author is in your living room giving a friendly chat about his experience in the hobby.It is the ideal length, and the neatest thing about it is, as the author says, he provides what he views is the minimal ESSENTIAL info to enable you to set up a successful first, and doesn't present the range of viewpoints, or more information that might just confuse a beginner.He rightly notes that a successful beginner will be interested in finding more detailed information if his initial experience is positive.

The three best things about this book in my opinion:

-- the information on water changes.I had mistakenly believed in earlier efforts that water changes were BAD, and should be kept at a minimum.The author is a water change fanatic, comparing a water change for an aquarium to opening the windows in an overcroweded room with poor air circulation (not to mention sanitation!), and he is right.I have not lost any fish yet, and I credit that to water changes, and ...

-- cycling; the next best thing about the book.An easy-to-understand step-by-step guide to the mystical concept of cycling.In addition to explaining this for beginners, the author stresses the need to start stocking the tank with fish slowly.You will have success if you follow this advice.

-- stocking schemes.Though on one hand being limited to a recommended stocking scheme is well ... limiting, it relieves you of the burden of extensive research to try to come up with fish that are hardy and won't eat each other.He provides about 10 different options, so their is considerable choice, and you can tweak a bit if you want, with minimal research.

So buy this book with confidence.You have a large base of satisfied readers guiding you in this choice.And kudos to the author, Mr. Boruchowitz, for making such a lasting and successful contribution to the hobby he loves!

Excellent starter book
I purchased this book on the strength of the reviews of the first edition.I have to say that I was not at all disappointed.

When I got the book, the sum total of my fish knowledge came from pet-sitting a betta fish for a month.However, I work in a large pet store and wanted to learn about our aquatics department.This book was invaluable in helping me to quickly understand the basics of aquarium care.I found it relatively easy to read & understand.

I was also snared into the world of fish-enthusiasts - I am now in the process of setting up my own tank (I'm still in the cycling stage) & have tentative plans for a second tank.
The book helped me avoid the common pitfalls beginners make and revealed the truth behind some fish myths (fish do NOT grow to fit the tank).

The chapters on required equipment (Ch 4: What do I have to have?), cycling (Ch 12), & Suggested Stocking Schemes (Ch 19) are particularly helpful.This is some of the most important information new fish owners should have, and it is hard to find in other aquarium books.

The book does not have much detailed information on specific species of fish, but that is not what this book is meant to do.That information is easy to find in any freshwater fish guide.

I definitely recommend this book to beginners. ... Read more

Product Description
Demystifies aquarium setup and maintenance

Combine and care for a wide variety of marine fish and invertebrates

Dive into the colorful world of saltwater fish! This fun, friendly guide gives you easy step-by-step instructions for choosing and caring for these amazing animals. You get the latest on feeding, tank upkeep, filtering systems, maintaining live rock, and preventing algae build-up, as well as what not to include in your aquarium.

Discover how to

• Choose the best fish and equipment
• Get your tank up and running
• Maintain proper water conditions
• Keep your fish happy and healthy
• Avoid tank pitfalls
• Keep a brackish aquarium

Customer Reviews (35)

Saltwater Aquariums for dummies
Excellent book for beginner easy to follow and full of necessary information to set up a saltwater aquarium

Saltwater Aquariums for Dummies
Item just as described, shipment was fast, great seller, hope to work with them again.

Must have for 1st timers with salt water aquariums
This book is a great resource & I would recommend it to anyone considering a salt water aquarium.Simplified so many things - great recommendations too.The stores want to sell you supplies, fish and other creatures which might or might not be the best for your environment.Read this when you are beginning and you will save $$$$ and your pets.

Salt Water Aquariums for Dummies
Very thorough and uncomplicated overview of how to set up and maintain a marine aquarium.i would have made alot of serious and pretty dumb mistakes without it.

learn first
very informational helped me make a decision that salt water wasn't for me saved me a buunncchh of money i recommend for any one who thinks they want a salt water aquarium takes the guessing out of it ... Read more

Product Description
Covers the latest aquarium gadgets


Design a dazzling underwater environment with this bestselling guide!

Setting up your first freshwater aquarium can be a daunting task. This friendly guide answers all your questions, from setting up your tank and selecting fish to the water, chemicals, plants, and much more. There's also expanded guidance on combining different species of fish, maintaining a tank, cleaning gravel, and dealing with common problems such as algae.

Discover how to
* Choose the right aquarium
* Select the best fish
* Get good deals on equipment
* Maintain a clean, healthy environment
* Handle tank pitfalls
* Breed your fish ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great book for a beginner.
I used this book in combination with online information to set up my first fish tank. This book was easy to comprehend and I gleaned a lot of valuable information from it. I would highly recommend this book to the beginner aquarium enthusiast.

Excellent Resource
This is a really good book for first time and those who want to refresh on setting up, taking care of tanks and fish and for general knowledge. Absolutely recommend.

What you need when you have no clue.
I am not a fast reader and the way this book is written, I was able to finish it very fast. I learned a LOT from this book.

Freshwater Aquariums for Dummies
This book provides everything a beginner needs to start this hobby. It is also organized to be a quick reference later. There are many common sense hints included and the explanations of why, instead of just how, lend credibility to the authors. The information in this book has been confirmed through other readings on the subject. I have found other "Dummies" books to be just as informative and organized.

Great for beginners.
This book is exactly as it should be.A beginners aquarium book.it tells you, step by step, how to set-up an aquarium.It isn't great for an expert, but that's not who it was designed for.I'd recommend it to anyone just starting out in the hobby or who would just like to have a finned friend.If you've purchased any of the other boks in this series, you won't be disappointed.It's in the same style, with pictures, and safety tips, and must knows, to get your hands wet in short enough time. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (103)

Good Meg
Read all of the prior "Meg" stories. This one is a great read, but reading the other may be a pre-reqresite in order to fully understand this story.
Great way that Alten makes these stories new and "fresh"...or at least as fresh as you can get after 3 prior books.
Steve Alten is on of the best creature story tellers..keep up the wonderfull work.

A Chomping Good Read
I loved this book.It is one of my favorites in the MEG Series. Can't wait for the next one.I love the way the author describes the locations, creatures and he does a good job in interweaving the story line all around to where the reader feels like they are in the middle of the story.Steve Alten is a superb writer.

One hell of a ride
Miles below the crushing depths of the Philippine Sea, hidden beneath the crust of the Philippine Sea Plate, monsters dwell that should have died 65 million years ago. Luckily for us, they didn't.

If you like your monsters big, mean and prehistoric, Steve Alten's "Meg: Hell's Aquarium" delivers the goods. It also effectively illustrates the point that there is always a bigger fish in the sea.

A follow up to Alten's "Meg: Primal Waters," Hell's Aquarium continues the story of Jonas Taylor, the deep sea diver/ paleontologist who first discovered giant Megalodons, prehistoric cousins of the Great White Shark, on a top-secret dive to the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean.

Taylor, the lone survivor of the doomed Navy expedition, is demonized and ridiculed for what he says he saw--until he becomes a paleontologist and manages to find one of the Megs again years later. The Meg follows Taylor to the surface and chaos ensues.
Taylor, along with his wife, Terry and daughter, Dani, is now running his own aquarium, the Tanaka Institute in California, with his own captured Megs--the 76-foot, 50-ton Angel and her brood of "pups," Angelica, Lizzie, Mary Kate, Ashley and Belle.

The story begins with the Meg from Angel's first litter, Scarface, becoming lunch for something much, much larger--a creature known as a pliosaur--one of a menagerie of prehistoric creatures that have been discovered to inhabit a vast sea beneath the Philippine Sea Plate. These creatures, it seems, who were once air breathers, have evolved gill slits, which enabled them to stay hidden and procreate all these millions of years.

Now, an Arab gentleman by the name of Fiesal Bin Rashidi, who also happens to be filthy rich and a relation of the Prince of Dubai, has built an enormous aquarium in Dubai, big enough to house these monsters from the deep. Who does he want to enlist to help capture these creatures? Not Jonas Taylor, as you would suspect, but his son, twenty-year-old David, who is home from college on summer vacation. David also happens to be an expert pilot of a new high-tech sub called a Manta Ray, which can withstand the tremendous pressures at the bottom of the Pacific.

David is enlisted, against the will of his father, to help train a team of pilots to dive deeper than any man (or woman) has ever gone before and lure these dangerous creatures into an array of awaiting nets. Unfortunately, once these pilots get down to a few thousand feet, they wig out because of the claustrophobic darkness and the very real possibility of becoming a snack for a sea serpent. It seems David and his newfound girlfriend, Kaylie, a navigator and pilot in her own right, are the only ones who are up to the task. But of course, all does not go as planned.

As if they didn't have enough problems, it seems Jonas' fish at the Tanaka Institute are becoming restless and the holding pens are becoming too small for the steadily growing Megs and their ginormous mother. An overzealous animal rights group (called R.A.W.) is also pushing the institute to release the Megs back into the wild and possess no scruples about their methods.

Well, I won't give away the rest, but suffice it to say that the biggest showdown of all time eventually ensues.

A literary agent once told me that you shouldn't have too much killing at the beginning of a horror book; you should build up to it. But since this is science fiction, I guess the rule doesn't apply, and that's great, because everyone wants to get to the part where the Megs start chowing down. Am I right? It does tend to get a bit graphic, but I don't think there is really a non-graphic way to describe a giant fish eating people.

Even though Jonas is 66, I figure if Harrison Ford can still be Indiana Jones, then Jonas Taylor can still pilot a sub and tame a giant shark or two. I realize that David will probably eventually assume Jonas' role just as Mutt will probably assume Indy's role and Dirk Pitt, Jr. will assume the role of his father in Clive Cussler's adventures.

One thing I love about Steve Alten is the research he does for his books. The man does have a Ph.D., so I assume he knows how to do research. I actually learn things when I read his books--Domain, Goliath, The Loch--just like I always did with Michael Crichton, one of my all-time favorite authors.

I've read pretty much all of Mr. Alten's books and I can say unequivocally that this is his best yet. This book moves along at a great clip and has excellent character development. It's not a throw-away, run-of-the-mill page-turner--it's a book that will stand the test of time.

Now out in paperback at about 500 pages, Hell's Aquarium features two different collectible covers and retails for $[...].

Check out Steve's Web site at [...].

Maybe a "young adult" title?
The writing is pretty limited (hence the young-adult title) and the story is very straight-forward. Makes for a good no-brainer read though.

Better than the first Meg
I didn't care that much for the first Meg book, but this one was really great.A total page turner, I couldn't and didn't want to put it down.I was actually kind of bummed when I was done reading it, knowing I'd have to wait a few days to get the rest of the books in the series.It's basically Jurassic Shark - people find prehistoric sea creatures and are dumb enough to try to put them in a kind of Seaworld.Lots of people get eaten, even people you don't want to get eaten.Then some other people are dumb enough to try to go down to the bottom of the sea to try to catch other, bigger sea monsters.Lots of them get eaten, too.Great book, lots of undersea adventures, lots of people getting eaten, and pretty good character development, too.
... Read more

Product Description
This expanded and updated edition of a valuable manual for marine aquarium hobbyists provides the latest scientific discoveries and aquarium techniques for keeping and propagating living corals. The coral reef, both in the ocean and in a marine aquarium, is a symbiotic system of corals and beneficial algae in a community with other marine life forms. The author also discusses sponges, echinoderms, mollusks, crustaceans, and fishes, and advises on controlling and eliminating diseases and parasites in a marine aquarium. Filled with instructive color photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Snorefest
The best way to describe this book is as follows:Its written by a highly intelligent person with a PHD and they aren't afraid to flaunt it.

I seriously felt like I was being talked down during the whole time I was reading this book- and I read it from cover to cover!Although it does contain a lot of helpful information, it was presented in a very "college Biology textbook" kind of format.Not really my style. Very technical, and very dry.

More recommended for more advanced marine aquariusts and marine biology students.

In depth
This is an excellent study of all relevant aspects of the subject, I thought. But you must take the review in context that I am new to the Marine side of the hobby. But have over thirty years of fresh water experience.

Buen Libro para Acurio Marin
Este libro es muy interesante y muestra paso a paso la creacion de un acuario de agua salada
ademas permite d una forma practica el indetifiar las diferentes especies marinas

Recomiendo comprarlo para todo aquel que este iniciando un acuario marino

Very informative and interesting.
My folks have started to collect ocean things to put into this "tide-pool aquarium" they built... and finding books on the subject turned out to be a bit harder than I thought. I picked up this book since it contained not only information on the various sea-life but also what they eat, their habitats and so on.

Basic for Beginners
The was is a great over veiw for people just getting started with the reef hobby.However if you are an intermediate hobbiest the book is very basic and you will most likely not learn anything that you do not know. If your new its a good book to start with. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is the "bible" on the subject of Reef Aquariumkeeping, covering the biology of coral reefs and relating it to thebiological, chemical, and physical parameters considered when creatinga reef aquarium. The book details how to successfully cultivate coralsin captivity and also features the identification and care of numerouscoral and giant clam species. Diseases and parasites, and methods forcontrolling algae are also featured. The book finishes with anexciting section of photographs demonstrating successful reefaquariums. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

The Reef Aquarium
Very good reference book for the reef aquarium. I am very pleased with my purchase and the price was very, very reasonable. This seller gets a five star rating from me. Thanks!!!!

volume one is a must have.
Volume one is a must have for any marine aquarist. It discusses much more than identification and care of inverts. If I had money to buy only one book this would be it.

good fact book
this is a good book if you are looking for a textbook format, but if you are looking for more of a picture referance format this one is not for you.

Great Product
This book came in a timely fashion and was very well kept. Great book to read when looking for the answers to questions you may have. Awesome purchase.

Great Series
This series is well worth every penny.You can find a lot of books for less but that is what you are getting.Save yourself some money and get the series that thoroughly do cover every aspect of the hobby in amazing detail.This series is amazing and you will love it. It is a bit scientific but it does not leave anything out. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

What happens when you realize that your own family is out to kill you?
..That is the sense i was getting throughout the book. I gave it five stars because it is a very entertaining reading from cork to cork, at the same time being an autobiographical account, which is not an easy thing at all.

The things you find out here are at times shocking, to an extant that you just want to throw it down and scream "No! This cannot be! Its all just a lie!" However that may reveal the very nature of the truth now may it not? I don't believe everything that was said here, because like any book it was formatted, but I do believe the integrity of its writer Victor Suvorov and his professional honesty. Plus, if you know anything about the Soviet Union and its ways of utter deceit of everything and everybody, especially those close to you, subterfuge that makes the Mongols look like kindergarten, and the will to dominate the whole world, you won't be too confused...

p.s. I read it in Russian at lib.ru

Great!
I got it for my friend who is military. Also, i read it myself several times. He enjoyed reading it a lot, as well as other books by this author.

Sobering and authentic
In this impressive work, Viktor Suvorov, a former GRU agent, takes the reader out into the field with Soviet military intelligence.He takes the reader through the recruitment process, training, and actual field intelligence work in a manner that crackles with authenticity.After reading this work, it is impossible not to come away sobered by the discipline and dedication of the Soviets.Nor is this book irrelevant today.By all accounts the GRU is still in business, whatever it now calls itself under the Russian Republic.It is not likely that it has changed much.

In one particularly telling scene, during their training military intelligence agents are taken to the training camp of young Soviet athletes, who are struggling mightily and sweatily to prepare for the Olympics--working literally every waking hour.The spy trainer then says to the students words to the effect of "This is how hard those who represent our country in the field of sport must work.Did you reallythink you, who will represent our country in the field of intelligence, can work any less hard?" Quite a good point, when one reflects upon it.

Suvorov is an engaging writer who knows how to make his points.This book is a fascinating look into a world that many Westerners barely know exists.Highly recommended.

1985
In the opening pages of "Inside the Aquarium" the narrator, ex-Soviet agent Viktor Suvorov, describes his first memory as a member of Soviet Military Intelligence: watching a film of an execution of a would-be defector. The officer in question was strapped into a coffin with an open lid, elevated slightly so he could see what was coming, and then traversed slowly down a conveyor belt into a blast furnace, screaming all the way.

With this gut-wrenching scene, Suvorov opens "Inside the Aquarium", his tale of how he was recruited, served, and ultimately defected from, the GRU, the military counterpart (and rival) of the communist KGB.

As an officer, Suvorov was the cream of the cream. A company commander, he participated in the "liberation" of Czechoslovakia in '68, served a tour on the General Staff and in the Spetznaz (the elite Soviet special forces) and was ultimately tapped for service with the GRU, an organization hardly anyone had heard of but whose impact could scarcely have been greater during the Cold War.

Suvorov described the mission, organization, scope and accomplishments of this massive octopus in his companion work, "Inside Soviet Military Intelligence." In sum, its mission was to recruit foreign agents, spy, and steal technology from the West using any and all means -- from bribery and blackmail to intimidation and murder.

Suvorov has many spy tales to enthrall the reader -- his physical and psychological training pitted him against condemned inmates in hand-to-hand combat, punished lapses of memory with electrical shocks, and strove to exploit his emotional pressure points at every turn, until he was for all appearances just the type of pitiless machine-man communism hoped to produce. And his field experiences in the West are an unrelenting tale of deceit, lies and ruthless manipulation. There was nothing the GRU wouldn't do to get its hands on foreign technology and the foreign agents willing to sell it. Success meant medals, promotion and respect; failure meant disgrace, torture and sometimes execution. In Intelligence, like Hollywood, you're only as good as your last job, and the mantra of Suvorov's superiors was unvaryingly: "What have you done for me today?"

The book is most effective for me, however, in conveying the mental and emotional atmosphere which living in the communist penitentiary state produced among its inmates. As a GRU agent, Suvorov had unheard-of priveleges and status, yet the unyeilding pressure to produce results "or else", the knowledge that his every word, action and even facial expression was under constant scrutiny from psychologists and superiors, and the unspoken knowledge that many of his assignments were actually tests of his willingness to betray his friends, all brought me back to Orwell's "1984." To a world where lies, cruelty, double-dealing and fear rule every moment of every day, and all human emotions except lust, cruelty and ambition are discouraged and punished.

The most emotionally difficult moments in the book for me were not the betrayals, murders and interrogations of former pals (conducted on the dreaded "conveyor", which some killed themselves to avoid experiencing) but Suvorov's knowledge that so many idiots in the West were all to willing to give up their freedom and prosperity and become knowing tools of Soviet intelligence. His incredulity and hatred of these people, who he was trained to recruit and treat kindly, is excellent proof that freedom is best appreciated by those who had to risk everything to win it. Suvorov coldly refers to communist-loving Westerners as "expletive-eaters" and this expression was shared by the whole of the GRU. They had to live in a prison: why would anyone want to do it voluntarily?

"Aquarium" (named after the nickname for GRU headquarters), should be required reading for all those daddy-financed college rebels who put on Che Guevera T-shirts and denounce Western capitalism in favor of some kind of Marxian utopia. Suvorov lived in one, and risked being thrown in a blast furnace to escape it.

A Classic that deserves to be studied.
Suvorov takes a deep look at human nature, the Soviet intelligence arena and military intelligence in general. I believe it is a text to be studied and returned to. The following passage is the readers favorite:

"The troops were convinced that human nature was basically vicious and incorrigible. They had good reason. Every day they risked their lives and every day they had an opportunity to observe people on the brink of death. So they divided everybody into the good and the bad. A good person in their eyes was one who did not conceal the animal seated within him. But a person who tried to appear good was dangerous. The most dangerous were those who not only paraded their good qualities but who also believed within themselves they were indeed good people.

The most loathsome disgusting criminal might kill a man, ten men or even a hundred. But a criminal will never kill people by the million. Millions are killed only by those who consider themselves good." ... Read more

Product Description
This fourth volume of the encyclopedia of the Modern Coral Reef Aquarium covers important invertebrate groups: Mollusks, such as snails, slugs and bivalves, commonly found in the trade are discussed in detail. Like in previous volumes of this book series, also more obscure and rare members of the phylum are covered to the extent that this can be of value to the marine aquarist. Echinoderms ? or spiny skinned animals ? are shown in spectacular photos and the biology and aquarium care of the many interesting brittle stars, starfishes, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins are described in detail. This book also discusses the interesting group of sea squirts, or tunicates. These organisms, which are very insufficiently covered in most aquarium books, are dealt with in detailed accuracy and illustrated with over 700 magnificent color photos.As an introduction to the book, Dr. Bruce Carlson (former director of the Waikiki Aquarium/Hawaii) has written a fascinating chapter on ?The Future of Coral Reef Aquarium?.Buy this 440-page book and complete your knowledge on the invertebrates of ?The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium?! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Highly recommended
There are those who swear by Delbeek and Sprung's series whereas others gravitate toward Fossa and Nilsen series. Personally I think the modern marine aquarist should have both and they both have something to contribute and offer a slightly different perspective. For the beginner though one should decide to follow one set of advice and only after some experience try to assimilate the works of many authors and slowly experiment.
For some Fossa and Nilsen some mightfind a little more approachable and straight forward.
Inthe end I believe it is a matter of personal taste.

Magnífico
This book is a great guide to those who approach the coral reef aquarium and are specially interested in knowing why things happen such a way. Try to read it and you'll get delighted for sure.
Finally, I should mention it's full of magnificient photos, both from aquariums and nature.

Amazing book
This book is simply amazing. That's all I have to say.

An Excellent Book, A Must For Any SALTWATER HOBBYIST
This was an excellent book, which was so easy to read and understand.Even if you never thought about owning a saltwater aquarium , this book will make you start one. It has alot of detail, discusses alot of equipment and how to use it.It discusses every aspect of the hobby and it should be one of the first books on your bookshelf if you have a saltwater aquarium. It not only talks about setting up the aquarium, but it also talks about what fish to put in the aquarium.Fossa and Nilsen are great authors and know everything about saltwater aquariums, buy their books if you can, their well worth the money.

It`s fantastic!
This book is what I have always been looking for. A great reference on cnidarians that is not to complicated. The price is very high,but indeed,it is worth the money as it deals with 500+ species of corals and other cnidarians,some of which I have seen in no other of my fantastic fish/invertebrate books. It includes descriptions of more than 40 species of horn corals as well as a lot of sea anemones,which are very beautifull. This book is actually an updated,english edition of the norwegian 1992 book "Korallrevsakvariet Band 4". The authors are very experienced and they truly show that with all advices they give about keeping a saltwater aquarium in this book. It is definitly magnificent. Unfortunatley,I do not keep living cnidarians my self. I am just studying about them as wild animals. But the book was worth it and it made me discover a series of books that may be the best survey ever made on marine life,although more species would have been a good idea (1000 or more would be able to cover a book of this dimensions)I will soon buy the other ones. I`ll highly recommend it! ... Read more

Product Description
An undersea kingdom in the comfort of one's own home...includes CD- ROM!

The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to Saltwater Aquariums offers nearly 1000 descriptions and pictures of marine fishes, corals, plants, and invertebrates among sixty family groupings on an easy-to-use cross-referenced CD-ROM. Presented in straightforward, readable text focused on the best species to consider, compatibility guidelines, general care recommendations, and what to do if things go wrong, this indispensable volume answers questions for both the novice and the experienced saltwater aquarium enthusiast.

•CD-ROM with nearly 1000 beautiful color pictures of marine fishes, all accompanied by clear, easy-to-understand text.

•Features tips on how to acclimatize to avoid harming the animals and advice on treating disease and problem-solving

•Includes information about filters, sumps, re­fugiums, calcium reactors, sterilizers, ozoniers, plumbing, lighting, and water

... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Certainly the author is not a dummy!
Have read the entire book, some parts several times. Still in the planning stages of an aquarium. Per his advice, I've visited some local stores; there ARE definitely differences in quality among stores! Fortunately, the Twin Cities have some stores totally dedicated to marine aquaria. AND, as a result, some of his suggestions are contradicted by the locals: eg, filter socks don't seem to be essential in front of a protein skimmer; all they add is maintenance headaches. I like the fact that specific brands are mentioned. It's a great intro, and, no doubt due to length restrictions, some parts are glossed over. But, it's a compelling intro. I'm glad I got it. Just don't rely on it exclusively.

A Breath of Fresh O2 in the World of H2O!
This book is really a breath of fresh air in an industry of VERY stifling books!While not a colorful book, this is well written in a descriptive and easy way that renders it far more enjoyable and informative than half the other books that have first rate photos and "appear" to contain more information. I was looking for a book that would cover everything from inception to enjoyment with starting a salt water aquarium, and this book fit the bill. It also includes many up-to-date aquarium methods that other "guides" such as the Dummy's book don't offer, such as creating a refugium in the place of bio balls.For those of you who might have thought you were a "Dummy" in this hobby, please decide to be an "Idiot" instead!

A winning guide for aquarium owners and any pet library
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Saltwater Aquariums offers a fine guide to saltwater aquariums and packs in details on filters, pumps, and selecting creatures for the aquarium. From which species to consider when stocking a tank to building a healthy eco-system and treating diseases, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Saltwater Aquariums is a winning guide for aquarium owners and any pet library. ... Read more

Product Description

• Aquarium Set-up and Maintenance
• Selecting Fish
• Fish Nutrition
• Keeping Fish Healthy

Customer Reviews (4)

Essential for beginners
This is an excellent book for beginners, it goes over most things essential to setting up and taking care of an aquarium. Such as maintence and cycleing a new tank, and types of filters and lights, etc. It has a very general description of fish species and characteristics. Because the information provided in this book is "essential" intermediate aquarist might find this book a bit tedious because there isnt realy any information an experienced aquarist shouldnt already know. I would recomend this to sombody who is new to or is interested in the hobby.

Great beginner guide and quick reference
I used this book to clean up a dying 10 gallon tank and start a 55 gallon tank and the information was invaluable. Two years later I still refer back to this book (in fact I am buying a replacement for my lost copy). I found it to contain all the essential information one needs, plus great information on fish personalities and interactions. The fish descriptions and types are quite abridged, but for a small handy guide this book is the one you need.

It covers the basics from tank setup to the nitrogen cycle to what species do well together. There is a guide to recognizing fish diseases - I can't praise this small book enough. I like things to be concise. For elaboration I go to the library. Keep this near your tank.

A good reference guide
I find this to be a solid reference guide when it comes to setting up a freshwater aquarium.Some of the things discussed are fish evolution and biology, tank size, aquarium stands, water chemistry (including the important nitrogen cycle), different types of filters, aeration, heating, lighting, gravel, plants, general maintenance, freshwater fish families, fish selection, feeding, and health.The color photographs are also pleasing.This is a helpful book.

A pleasing book a must for beginers and not advansed
very goo ... Read more

Product Description
Many hobbyists strive to eventually be able to care for a successful reef aquarium. A mini-reef aquarium is the ideal solution, providing the challenge of a larger setup with the reward of cultivating a mini-ecosystem in your own home.The Simple Guide to Mini-Reef Aquariums includes easy-to-understand information on:-The most common and easiest-to-care-for species of reef inhabitants.-How and where to set up your tank.-Routine and special-needs maintenance.-Identifying and solving problems.-How to nurture, sustain, and grow your mini-reef. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Excellent book!Casual and funny, but informative!
Well written, smart, and full of info.You'll love this book if you're thinking of starting a nano-reef.

Good book for someone new to the hobby
A very good book for anyone considering this hobby or is just getting into it.

Horrible - Not informative at all.
This book is written by the same author as The Simple Guide to Marine Aquariums.These two books contain virtually identical information -- in some cases they're even word for word the same.I thought this book would be a step up for someone moving from a basic fish only tank to a reef tank -- it isn't.It spends chapter after chapter discussing the nitrogen cycle and basic filtration.He mentions a sump many times in the book, yet never explains what it is, how to use one, or even shows a picture of one...not the best move to skip this extremely important information when talking to beginners.I bought this book thinking it would have a basic 'intro to sumps', one of the most important pieces of reef keeping equipment and I get no information whatsoever. This book is completely worthless.

basic book on care of corals
this is a very basic book about the care of corals. if one is new to the hobby, then this is a starter. i finished reading this book in 1 hour.

a lot of good tips for reef keeping
it has a lot of good advices and it's easy to understand! ... Read more

Product Description
Marine aquarium hobbyists who turn to this book will find the most up-to-date information and advice available anywhere on the increasingly popular activity of setting up and maintaining a thriving coral reef aquarium. In recent years, specialists have made major advances in understanding natureÂ's marine aquarium systems. Withauthor Philip HuntÂ's expert advice and instruction, even beginning hobbyists can maintain viable, beautiful, and long-lasting coral reef aquarium displays. In addition to its wealth of practical information, The Marine Reef Aquarium features approximately 400 vivid color photos that display the coral reef environment and its many interesting denizens in all their glory. For such a highly visual subject as the marine reef, expertly produced color photos are a mustÂ--and The Marine Reef Aquarium provides them in abundance. Equally important, the general realization that coral reefs are an increasingly endangered species has brought this subject to a place of international prominence. Here is a book that belongs on every marine aquarium enthusiastÂ's reference shelf. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great Beginners Book!
I would definitely recommend this book for anyone thinking about setting up their first marine tank.Well written and laid out, this book goes over the basics to starting a reef tank and even includes some info about more advanced things.My personal fave is the fact they included a chapter on pests and how to get rid of them... including mantis shrimp, which I have yet to see in a book like this.

Its hardcover and full of pages of colorful pictures and diagrams, and is a pleasure to read from cover to cover.

Please check out my other reviews for beginning marine aquariums at: [...]

informative and enjoyable
Mr. Hunt's book is a great reference and an enjoyable read.Book is full of accurate helpful information, fantastic photography, and species identification.It is well suited to "reefers" starting out for the first time; and also contains sufficient information to keep the interest of those experienced in the hobby.

Ten times better than I expected
I think this book is a great guide to starting/maintaining a marine reef aquarium. The information and pictures are new and up to date. I couldn't have asked for more.

great for beginners
I have looked through several books at the bookstore before buying this one. It is easy to read and as the author states a practical guide for keeping a reef aquarium. I would say this is more for beginners not those of you with experience. For my interests, he has discussed every issue about starting and keeping an aquarium. Even went over almost all the fish I was interested in. Beautiful pictures too.
Anyway, well worth it for me.

Current -- but a bit shallow
Worth the purchase price -- but by no means the only book on the subject you need in your library.If you're new to the hobby -- this book is current and provides an excellent reference.If you have some experience, this book won't add much to your knowledge base. ... Read more

Product Description
---Comprehensive: 500+ species photographs, covering all popular and commonly available aquarium species---Authoritative: expert advice on feeding and captive care---Informative: aquarium suitability ratings for every species---Easy to use: complete species name and common name indexes ... Read more

Customer Reviews (50)

Excellent Book
I am fairly new to the hobby and have made several mistakes already regarding the fishes I have bought. I have even brought home species that didn't have the slightest chance to survive in the tank, but the retailer never said anything about it, probably because he didn't know any better. My main problem so far has been not knowing anything about the fishes I'm buying at the moment of buying them. The dealers most of the time don't know either that much about them, they just know basic information and never ask what you have in your tank, for them you can simply take home any fish they have on sale. This book is my companion now every time I go shopping for fish, it tells me everything I need to know about that fish I see in the tank and want to buy but don't know anything about.

an essentialeasy to use whos-whos guide to marine fishes
This of course yet another miniature essential pocket expert guide book what it lacks in been a indispensible know-how reference book it makes up for in clearexpert advice on captive breeding care in a bizarre sustainable enviroment

An excellent reference
There is not too much to say about this guide other than it has just about every marine fish I could think of, and that it's great, and accurate! This is a must have for absolutely anyone involved in any way with saltwater tanks. Be sure to pick up the companion Invertebrate guide too!

Marine Fishes
Great book. Good information on saltwater species for tanks. tells you everything you need to know about the fish and how to take care of it.

Reef Fishes--All Volumes
Everything written by Scott Michael is EXCELLENT! He's my favorite aquatic author. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND all of his books! ... Read more

Product Description
Hundreds of different aquarium plants are illustrated in color with detailed descriptions of each plant, its common name, botanical designation, and information on its growth cycle and general care. A brand-new title in the growing Mini Encyclopedia Series for aquarium hobbyists, this book helps aquarium owners plan, create, and maintain a colorful and interesting environment for fish and aquatic life. Each volume provides in-depth information and instruction on a specific subdivision of fish keeping. Complementing the text are sets of illustration panels filled with full-color photos, each with its own detailed and instructive caption. The team of authors, all recognized aquarium experts, show readers how to set up an aquarium, select species, and maintain an optimal environment for the tank’s aquatic and plant life. Approximately 250 color photos and illustrations in each volume. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A Fine Book
It is a great book.
I have had problems keeping plants alive in my aquarium. With this book I found out why.Most tank lights don't produce enough light for most plants.
This book told me what plants would work and now I have a nice display of living plants in the tank.
I love the pictures in the book and the text is very well done.

Terrific first plant guide
Hiscock's book is correctly titled a "mini" encyclopedia. For first-time planted tank owners, it is a godsend. It describes in detail the lighting, CO2, and substrate issues every planted tank has. It then shows layouts for many types of tanks, and how the plants might be placed in them.

He explains that there are hundreds of plant species available, and that he has hit on the most common ones.

The back part of the book, with the plant species, is the first place I look when I'm considering a new plant. Each plant is shown and a chart is given describing the growth conditions required, how fast it grows, and how to propagate it. With Hiscock's help, I have planted 5 tanks so far, with plans to expand to my others soon.

A Comprehensive Starter for the Aquarist
This book provides an excellent start for anyone who wants to start using real plants in an aquarium. Part 1 of the book covers: plant biology and photosynthesis, water quality/filtration, substrates, planting, lighting and feeding, propagating, and aquarium maintenance. His explanations are clear English which do not require an M.S. in botany to understand. He gives you enough information to help you understand what is happening "behind the scenes" in your tank regarding your plants' growth and how light, substrate, water quality, food, and dissolved gases in the water all influence plant health and growth.

Part 1 also includes a few sample biotopes with suggested types of fish for each one (unlike one review that claims this book is solely for planted aquariums sans fish). He also gives a brief introduction to placement of your plants.

Part 2 covers over 150 aquatic plants (after all, it's a MINI-encyclopedia). He presents both Latin name as well as the common name of the plants. Each plant is accompanied by a short narrative about the plant plus data: origin, maximum height, growth rate, area of placement, light needs, temperature, how to propagate, and difficulty of maintaining.

The book includes excellent photos and diagrams to better illustrate the points he makes. If you are an aquatic botanist this book probably won't tell you anything new. If you have or are starting an aquarium and want to go beyond some Java Fern and don't want to toss money in the trash by buying plants not suitable for your setup, then I believe this book is an excellent choice.

For a plant tank not a fish tank
I find the title containing the word encyclopedia a little deceiving. The back of the book describes the book a little better as "Wide-ranging selection of the most common plants". Though this book has many listings of aquarium plants I would not use this book to identify a plant because it is highly abridged. The advice on how to setup a planted tank is geared towards a plant only tank and would be atypical for a aquarium where the main focus is tropical fish. Maybe just me but I was looking for a book about having ornamental plants in my tropical fish tank. Still useful, Easy read, I would suggest this book to someone who doesn't know much about aquarium plants but wants to get a good foothold in the basics. Keep in mind that this book is about a plant tank not a fish tank.

Has one great Chapter other books don't have...
I bought this book specifically because it has a guide to diagnose plant problems.The leaves are turning yellow?That means something specific!There are holes in the leaves?That means something else entirely!Well worth the price if you're having problems growing healthy plants or are just starting out in the hobby. ... Read more

Product Description
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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

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.

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!

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!

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

After reading this book you will be able to create a natural environment in your aquarium specific to the type of fish you have.

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.

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.

Excellent Resource
Outstanding book. It helped me visualize the design and layout of my aquarium. An excellent resource for beginners or pros.

More pecific for certain bio types
This book give you more of an idear of setting up aquariums for specificbio 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 . ... Read more