Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 208 pages
• Published by: Barron's Educational Series April 2003
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0764155210
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0764155215
• Book Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.7 x 0.8 inches
• Weighs: 2 pounds
• Note: Gift-wrapping is not available for this item.

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 photographs 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 photographs and illustrations.

Back Cover Copy
The natural biology of plants * Water quality and filtration * Choosing substrates * Selecting plants * Planting techniques * Lighting * Feeding * Propagation * Essential maintenance * Aquascaping * Populating with fish

A complete guide to more than 150 popular aquarium plants

Fully illustrated with more than 250 color photographs and graphics

Reader Reviews
When I picked up this book for the first time, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Finally, an aquarium plant book that is concise, easy to read and laid out in an attractive manner. This book is divided into two parts: the "practical section" and the "plant profiles". The practical section, 121 pages, covers aquatic plants and how to care for them. Selection of substrate, proper lighting and nutrition, ideal water quality, and algae identification/control are all covered in this section. The author also includes some plant-friendly fish and sample aquascapes. The plant profile section is probably why this is called the "Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants." This 75-page section lists many, many plants along with a brief profile on each type. Profiles include: growth rate, lighting and temperature requirements, propagation, and special notes about that particular plant. I can't say enough about the number of pictures in this book and their quality. Full-color pictures on each page really help you identify what the author is talking about. Layout of the photos is anything but mundane; each page is different from the last. Even the index of this book is tremendously useful. It is divided into three sections: General Index, Plant Index and Fish Index. Having the three distinct sections to the index makes it easy to pick the book up off the shelf and find what you're looking for. I've even taken this book right to the pet store to select my plants...there's too much information to remember! I also feel inclined to note that this book has a glossy, durable, hard cover, and the pages appear to be bound to the cover by stitching. I can open the book to any page and not have to worry about the pages flipping around when I'm not holding or weighing them down. Overall, the information, photos, layout and general quality of this book make it the best aquarium book I own! Comment (1) | | (Report this)