The Tropical Fish Keeping Journal Book Edition Two: Tropical Fish Keeping Journals, #2

By Alastair R Agutter

A very big welcome to the "Tropical Fish Keeping Journal Book Edition Two" for every tropical Fish Hobbyist and Dedicated Aquarist from around the World. Each edition covers a series of special features on the hobby, for a successful tropical fish keeping experience.

In book edition two of the “Tropical Fish Keeping Journal” we cover; the choice of aquarium substrates and their advantages. Successfully growing and keeping aquatic plants for the naturally planted aquarium. Different filtration methods and systems for the aquarium, to achieve the very best results for safe crystal clear water.

INTRODUCTION - Author’s introduction to the Tropical Fish Keeping Journal Book Edition Two

AQUARIUM SUBSTRATES - Getting down in the dirt featuring aquarium substrates and with an in-depth look into the options available to achieving healthy thriving tropical fish and Aquatic Plants

GROWING HEALTHY AQUATIC PLANTS - Understanding the science and secrets behind growing and propagating successfully Aquatic Plants

AQUARIUM FILTRATION SYSTEMS - The options in filtration to deliver optimal aquarium conditions with crystal clear water

TROPICAL FISH SPECIES - Editors choice featuring a selection of tropical fish species accompanied with fact files

AQUATIC PLANT SPECIES - Editors choice featuring a selection of aquatic plant species accompanied with fact files

BREEDING LIVEBEARER PLATIES - The aquarists quick guide to successfully breeding and rearing livebearer Platies

AQUARISTS PRODUCTS GUIDE - Featuring essential star aquatic products of note for today's tropical fish hobbyist

AQUARISTS REFERENCE TABLES - Sets of essential reference tables for aquarists including Gallons, Litres, Aquarium Sizes, Filtration and more in every journal edition, plus mathematical formulas

AQUARISTS BOOK GUIDE - Essential books and magazines worth reading and acquiring covering the hobby

AQUARISTS DIRECTORY - Useful web sites and web addresses for aquarists in relation to the pastime

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alastair R Agutter Digital Publications
• Release date: Aug 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781540798442

Alastair R Agutter

Alastair R Agutter was born in Farnborough, Kent, England in 1958. He is a Best Selling Author of more than 30 specialist books. He is a Philosopher, Logistician, Theoretical Physicist, Writer, Publisher, Naturalist, Environmentalist, Computer Scientist, Creative Digital Artist and Proud Father of Five Children. His first specialist book was published in 1989 and writing on the South American Marine species the symphysodon that he managed to breed successfully in captivity after a great deal of heartache. In the book introduction over 25 years ago, he wrote about climate change concerns and with warnings. From the age of just 6 years, Alastair took up Gardening, being taught by his Grand Father, William Agutter. At 9 years of age, and as a young boy, Alastair also took up the hobby and past time of Tropical Fish Keeping, and became a very successful Aquarist , breeding countless species of cichlids and other tropical fish for over 46 plus years. Still today Alastair remains one of a select few in the world to breed Wild Discus (symphysodon) in captivity, and remains an authority on the subject ,and also as an accomplished author. As a writer of over 25 years today, Alastair never knew he would become a specialist books author. But then on reflection of his life's journey today, such a path does now make absolute sense!

Book preview

Tropical Fish Keeping Journal

Book Edition Two

Written, Designed and Created by

Alastair R Agutter (Author)

www.alastairagutter.com

Cover and Inside Book Photograph by

Alastair R Agutter

Cover Picture Tropical Fish Species:

Rummy Nose Tetras (Hemigrammus rhodostomus)

Published by Alastair R Agutter Digital Publications

1st Edition Published 4th December 2016

Available in Traditional Print and Digital

ISBN-13: 978-1540798442

ISBN-10: 1540798445

All Rights Reserved

2016 © Copyright and

Intellectual Property, no

Part of this publication

May be reproduced

Without permissions

From Author and

Publishers

Contents:

Introduction

Author’s introduction to the Tropical Fish Keeping Journal Book Edition Two

About

Alastair Agutter’s Marine Biography background as an experienced world authority on the subject of tropical fish keeping

Aquarium Substrates

Getting down in the dirt featuring aquarium substrates and with an in-depth look into the options available to achieving healthy thriving tropical fish and Aquatic Plants

Continued.....

Growing Healthy Aquatic Plants

Understanding the science and secrets behind growing and propagating successfully Aquatic Plants

Aquarium Filtration Systems

The options in filtration to deliver optimal aquarium conditions with crystal clear water

Tropical Fish Species

Editor’s choice featuring a selection of tropical fish species accompanied with fact files

Aquatic Plant Species

Editor’s choice featuring a selection of aquatic plant species accompanied with fact files

Breeding Livebearer Platies

The aquarists quick guide to successfully breeding and rearing livebearer Platies

Continued.....

Aquarists Products Guide

Featuring essential star aquatic products of note for today’s tropical fish hobbyist

Aquarists Reference Tables

A set of essential tables for aquarists to reference including mathematical formulas

Aquarists Book Guide

Essential books and magazines worth reading and acquiring covering the hobby

Aquarists Directory

Useful web sites and web addresses for aquarists in relation to the pastime

Introduction

Dear Reader and Aquarist,

Firstly, a very big welcome to the Tropical Fish Keeping Journal and a special thank you for acquiring this copy of the publication edition two in

the series, and hopefully as mentioned before through God’s good graces, there will be many more book editions to come in the future.

Alastair R Agutter

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About Author

Alastair Agutter is one of a select few world-wide to successfully breed the Discus (symphysodon) species

King of the Aquarium in captivity and an authority on these tropical fish species and others, as an accomplished Best Selling Author of Specialist Books Internationally.

Alastair began keeping and breeding tropical fish as a hobbyist from the age of just 9 years back in 1967 (nearly 50 years ago) and has successfully bred many species. He was one of the very first Aquarists in the United Kingdom breeding cichlids from the Great Lakes (Malawi and Tanganyika) in the early and mid-nineteen-seventies.

His enthusiasm as a dedicated Aquarist continues today with a number of projects underway; including the development of new biological filtration systems (Polyatomic-ion Biological Reactors), to help improve the success survival rate for keeping thriving plants with tropical fish species. Other projects include breeding a number of endangered species including original strains of the symphysodon family and other smaller indigenous species native to South America mainly inhabiting the Great River Amazon.

Alastair also continues today designing and making his very own aquariums and equipment for his projects, and also endeavours to write more tropical fish hobbyist reference books as a freelance full-time author, in the interests of further serving the local and wider Community Internationally.

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Aquarium Substrates

Since 1967, nearly 50 years ago, when I took up tropical fish keeping to the current day, aquarium substrates have always been the key to healthy thriving fish and aquatic plants in conjunction with high protein super foods and good sunlight. But so often after a few days, weeks and months, the tropical fish hobbyist’s aquarium begins to see the inhabitant aquatic plants deteriorating.

In the Aquarium Substrates feature in the journal is a very extensive look at the bottom of the aquarium, and with solutions and ideas, to help ensure your aquatic plants do not fade and die.

Aquarium Filtration Systems

In the mid 1980’s when breeding Discus (symphysodon), I developed the Power Vain Trickle Filtration System to help replicate conditions for certain aquariums, where I was acclimatizing wild Heckel Discus.

Today I am pleased to say, trickle filters are common place in our pastime, but not one filter design fits all, and so in this journal feature of Aquarium Filtration we take a detailed look at filtration methods, to meet the needs of our aquatic plants and tropical fish.

What’s Coming Up

Before we move onto the features in this edition two of the Tropical Fish Keeping Journal here below, provides details of current, and forth coming editions of the publication, for  readers and aquarists.

Tropical Fish Keeping Journal Book Edition One

In this issue of the Tropical Fish Keeping Journal book edition one, we cover; the history of tropical fish keeping and the unmistakable contribution made by our Victorian Ancestors. Helping new aquarists get started. Choosing the correct themes and styles for the aquarist’s planned aquarium(s). Choosing the right sized fish tank, including the supporting stand required for the job and the importance of positioning the aquarium in the right place.

Tropical Fish Keeping Journal Book Edition Two

In this book edition two of the Tropical Fish Keeping Journal we cover; the choice of aquarium substrates and their advantages. Successfully growing and keeping aquatic plants for the naturally planted aquarium. Different filtration methods and systems for the aquarium, to achieve the very best results for safe crystal clear water.

Tropical Fish Keeping Journal Book Edition Three

In book edition three of the Tropical Fish Keeping Journal we cover; water quality and conditions, to the techniques, products and methods to heating the tropical fish aquarium, to lighting systems and the choices available for the aquarist and a little history, to finally fish behaviour and physiology. 

Tropical Fish Keeping Journal Book Edition Four

In book edition four of the Tropical Fish Keeping Journal we cover; insight to fish species and their compatibility with others, to feeding tropical fish including recipes to make your own tropical fish food, early days fish care and the 28 day cycle to establishing safe aquarium water conditions and lastly maintenance of aquariums for ensuring healthy thriving tropical fish.

Tropical Fish Keeping Journal Book Edition Five

In book edition five of the Tropical Fish Keeping Journal we cover; cures and remedies for fish diseases and with the avoidance of chemicals, to a specially prepared and created set of aquarists reference tables detailing aquarium sizes, filtration rates, heating requirements and sizes for aquariums, lighting wattage for fish tanks, biological culture volume mass, conversions and mathematical formulas for aquariums in litres, imperial US gallons and UK gallons, to identifying the different methods and techniques, surrounding tropical fish reproduction (breeding).

Tropical Fish Keeping Journal Book Edition Six

In book edition six of the Tropical Fish Keeping Journal we cover; essential equipment and worthwhile practical products, how to become a DIY aquarist and to start utilizing household items for the family aquarium or fish house, to making your own all glass aquarium, making a filtration system, the aquarists products directory to the useful book reads guide.

Continued.....

Cure Not Chemicals

Over the years from studying and breeding tropical fish, I have discovered the biggest disappointment when keeping tropical fish for aquarists has been disease and the biggest cause to this is stress.

We know ourselves living a hectic life is not conducive to our well-being (the environment) and can lead to the triggering of health problems and disease.

The tropical fish keeping environment is no different, yet so often very sadly, fish stressed and run down, are very often, further exposed to a series of chemicals to address such condition, and so often the decisive killer.

Many tropical fish diseases can be avoided when following some key golden rules found throughout the Tropical Fish Keeping Journal editions.

Treatment for many of the most common diseases found in tropical fish keeping can be remedied without the use of chemicals, and this information will be further covered in Edition Five of the "Tropical Fish Keeping Journal" publication in detail.

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God Bless, Sincere Best Wishes to All,

Alastair R Agutter

Aquarist and Author

Aquarists Diary and News

Welcome to the Tropical Fish Keeping Journal edition two and the new feature Aquarists Diary and News to keep dedicated aquarists and tropical fish hobbyist readers around the world informed and up to date.

Natural Law Will Serve You Well

One thing I have continued to learn in my pastime of tropical fish keeping and life is the need to respect Natural Law, and learn how to co-exist in such an environment, for my own well-being and others around me.

It has not always been the case on this constant journey of learning, through my professional life and having a young family, we tend to embroil and trap ourselves into the social ills that are now having an impact on our world, especially from consumerism leading tragically to climate change.

The techno-sphere today that seems to be taking over