Ecology of the Planted Aquarium
This book provides a reference for setting up and maintaining a successful freshwater aquarium. Specifically, providing information on: how plants purify the water and substrate to make the aquarium healthier and easier to maintain; what aquarium maintenance is important and what isn't; facts about algae that will aid in preventing algae blooms; and how to grow plants without the use of expensive equipment successfully. This book combines scientific knowledge of aquarium maintenance and hobbyist knowledge to demonstrate the ease of maintaining a healthy aquarium.
Stats for nerds
10recommend
13mentions
11people
2008–2025years
92% recommend8% neutral
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- Diana Walstad's Ecology of the Planted Aquarium maybe not a tech book, more like anti-tech, aanyway well worth reading even if you dont have any aquariums.
- Kind of off-path from my regular reading, but I recently got absorbed into the planted aquarium world. This book was such a great way to get acquainted with the ecology and methods required, though once you do it... It's extremely obvious that it works, and why it works:
Ecology of the Planted Aquarium: A Practical Manual and Scientific Treatise https://www.amazon.ca/Ecology-Planted-Aquarium-Practical-Sci...
Having a slice of nature in my home that's genuinely self-sufficient by all practical means has been wildly educational, rewarding, and fascinating. So many species emerged from such small samples of local ponds, lakes, and streams where I found my materials. I thought I understood ecological diversity and the staggering number of living things out there, but seeing this thriving ecosystem in only 10 gallons of volume really drove it home... The earth is absolutely covered in life.
And it all came out of mud!
I highly recommend it to anyone who likes to nerd out on ecology, aquariums, water, etc.
- Ecology of the Planted Aquarium: A Practical Manual and Scientific
- Ecology of the Planted Aquarium: A Practical Manual and Scientific by Diana Walstad
- ecology of the planted aquarium by diana walstad
- Goldfish especially should not be kept in bowls, and often small to medium tanks are not adequate. They can grow quite large and need companions.
3 gallons is the minimum size you should keep a beta fish in, but many peoe recommend at least a 5 gallon tank. It's possible to keep beta fish in a tank with certain other fish but I don't know much about it.
One of the best things you can do if keeping a freshwater aquarium is to fill it with plants. They help to filter the water, provide oxygen, prevent algae blooms, provide hiding spots for fish, and can even be a food source if done right.
Diana Walstad's The Ecology of the Planted Aquarium[1] is an excellent book on this topic. Easy to find a PDF version online.
[1] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/91597.Ecology_of_the_Pla...
