The New Marine Aquarium: Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide
by Michael S. Paletta
Publisher: Microcosm Books Ltd.
ISBN: 1890087521
As an expert marine aquarist, Michael S. Paletta regularly writes articles for The New Marine Aquarium: Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide, and other national publications. He has personally been involved with setting up and designing over 60 aquariums, including the 4,500-gallon reef exhibit at the National Aquarium in Baltimore and another at the Pittsburgh Aqua Zoo.
If you are wanting to, or just getting started in the saltwater aquarium hobby, this book is for you! Paletta has done a superb job of putting this new beginners book together. The New Marine Aquarium provides you with all the details you'll need to set up a fish-only tank from start to finish, how to cure and add live rock for biological filtration (if you choose this method of filtration), as well as how to care for the aquarium and its inhabitants once it is up and running. It's easy to read and comprehend the content, contains well organized information, beautiful color photographs, and detailed graphic drawings, making it a top choice resource book.
Paletta includes three checklists in this book. The "Planning Checklist" and the "Step-By-Step Setting Up A Fish-Only Tank Checklist" are both handy to give you an order to what you need to do. They include a box to check off when you have completed a particular task or step. The "Fish Choices For Five Starter Aquariums Checklist" provides outlines for five fish-only community tank set ups for the fish you might choose for each type. These range from the peaceful community tank to the more aggressive, predatory fish community tank.
The following Chapters are covered in The New Marine Aquarium :
Chapter 1 - Getting Started
Planning Your System: Basic Choices and Equipment for a First Marine Aquarium. This Chapter includes the "Planning Checklist".
Chapter 2 - Saltwater Primer
A Healthy Medium: Making It Sparkling and Fit for Fishes
Chapter 3 -Live Rock
Nature's Biological Filter: How to Buy and Tame It. Includes a detailed section on Rockscaping with many diagrams to show how to properly arrange rocks for optimum efficiency, tank circulation, and ease of tank care.
Chapter 4 - Establishing A New Aquarium
From Empty Tank to Living Ecosystem: A Step-By-Step Guide. This Chapter includes the "Step-By-Step Setting Up A Fish-Only Tank Checklist".
Chapter 5 - Selecting Fishes
A Guide to Stocking a Marine Community Tank. This Chapter includes the "Fish Choices For Five Starter Aquariums Checklist" (with many full color fish photographs), a beginner invertebrates list, as well as information about quarantining new fish arrivals and how to set up a simple QT (Quarantine Tank).
Chapter 6 - Feeding & Maintenance
Simple Routines for Keeping Fishes Well Fed and the System Attractive
Chapter 7 - Health
Preventing and Curing Common Disease and Parasite Problems
This is a book that we highly recommend, not only for the beginning marine hobbyist, but one that would be a valuable resource to have in any saltwater aquarium reference library.
Stan & Debbie Hauter, your Guide for Saltwater Aquariums