[.ca] The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquarium (ISBN 0793821010)

Short on Specifics:
If you're a beginning "aquarist" and you plan to buy only one book (for now) then don't buy The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums by David E. Boruchowitz. It makes a good "second" book for beginners but it is too short on specifics to be you "main" resource. Do you want to know how may fish you can keep in your tank? This book does not tell you. Do you wnat to know which kinds of fish don't mix? This book does not tell you. Do you want to know which kind of fish are more tolerant to hard water like most tap water? This book does not tell you. I could go on but you get the idea. The book DOES contain a lot of overview/perspective type information for people who want to really give their fish the highest possible care. It also has some VERY helpful information about which fish to avoid. Unfortunately event that information is grouped in two or three different areas and those fish are pictured at random spots through the book. Instead, try You and Your Aquarium by Dick Miles (ISBN: 0394729854) or, if you don't need color photos get the tried and trusted "For Dummies" book Aquariums for Dummies. (ISBN: 0764551566).

The best beginner's guide:
Before I bought my first aquarium, I read several books for beginners, and this is by far the best. Anyone who is interested in fishkeeping and follows the advice in this book will have a successful experience. All the basics --tank sizes (DON'T start too small!), essential equipment, water quality, feeding, etc.-- are covered clearly and thoroughly. In addition, the advice about chemicals and equipment to avoid will save you money and prevent stress on both you and your fish. Finally, the stocking schemes offered (there are many, many options) are like having an expert go fish shopping with you so you can choose the perfect selection of fish based on your preferences and tank size while avoiding the expense and disappointment of choosing incompatible or unsuitable species (e.g., aggressive fish, fish that grow too large, fish that require very special environments).If you are beginner in the hobby, buy this book, follow the advice, and you will have a great experience!

My first resource:
I got this book when I bought my first aqaurium, and am I glad I did! This saved a complete beginner from making some deadly mistakes and saved my fish from suffering. I have read it cover to cover more than once, and would recommend this reference to an aquarium novice. However, as another reviewer stated, this book doesn't have everything. You still need to research the specific types of fish you wish to purchase in case they have special needs. But, overall, this resource is highly useful.

Read This Book Before Buying An Aquarium:
If you don't have a clue about where to start and you want to purchase your very first tank, please read this book before buying a single piece of equipment! It will answer many of your questions and prevent many problems. This book is practical. Since I've read this book, I've purchased a second aquarium. My fish are thriving. The "Suggested Stocking Schemes" are particularly helpful. Excellent beginner's book.

An easy & fun read to get you hooked to topical fishies:
I must confess, I have never thought much about fish. Except to ponder if my salmon would be better poached or barbequed. I am more of a furry animal person. One night my husband said, we should get a fish tank for the kitties - it would be like TV for felines. Ha ha ha. The more I thought about it, the more interested I became, and of course visited Amazon.com to browse around. After reading just a few reviews for various fishkeeping books, on thing became very clear: it is REALLY easy to screw up a fish tank. Disaster can take the form of a tankful of green crud, several dead fishes, and a lot of wasted money. My visions of buying a glass box, filling it with water and throwing in a bunch of pretty fish were decidedly dashed. Well, I bought this book anyway, thinking fishkeeping would probably turn out to be too complicated and time-consuming for me, but what the heck. The kitties would love it. It is true that it is easy to mess up a fish tank, but it is also true that it is just as easy to keep one clean and beautiful. Mr. Boruchowitz's book is specifically aimed at beginners, and assumes you know nothing about fish (except whether you prefer poached or barbequed). The layout of the book is logical and easy to follow. He tells you up front the pitfalls beginner aquarists run in to, and how to avoid them. And avoiding them does not take much effort or brain-strain. It *does* take some planning and a bit of research, both of which I found to be fun when I used this book as a guide. "The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums" is just that - simple. It discusses tanks, equipment, food, decorations, and the fishies themselves, all in plain english. Although there is a lot you *could* do with your fish tank, Boruchowitz stresses for first-timers it is important to succeed with your tank. Mr. Boruchowitz tells you very simply how to do just that, without losing a lot of time, money, or hair. There are many obstacles to navigate: expensive technologies that say they do everything but your laundry; bogus information from the Web, magazines, and pet stores about which fish can live together; how much time it really takes to maintain your aquarium and keep the fish healthy. I cannot imagine trying to sort the seaweed from the fish poop without this book. Before you buy anything - even one tiny tetra - read this book from cover to cover. It is not hard to do - I was finished before I knew it. As humans who make the choice to keep animals - furred or not - it is our responsibility to give them the best lives possible. Even if they are 'just fish.' This book will help you do just that. My wallet, fishies, and hairline thank you, Mr. Boruchowitz.