Book excerpt: A detailed and comprehensive guide. Freshwater and saltwater fishkeeping are challenging and tremendously rewarding hobbies. Aquariums is a big book that covers every aspect a fishkeeper needs to know. Step-by-step technical instructions are illustrated with hundreds of color diagrams as well as hundreds of color photographs of fish in their natural habitats. The book features: Choosing equipment Preparing the water and setting up the aquarium Saltwater and freshwater requirements Types of fish and their families Freshwater fish directory Saltwater fish directory Fish reproduction Plants for the aquarium Balance is the key to the successful aquarium, and Aquariums suggests fish mixes in combination with appropriate plants. Quite often, an aquarium will be thrown out of balance with the introduction of improperly prepared rocks and wood decorations. Simple instructions are offered for the preparation of such decorative objects for the aquarium. Packed with practical advice and useful tips, Aquariums shows how to set up a fish tank of stunning beauty.