Introduction. Chapter 1: Are You Ready to Get a Saltwater Aquarium? Lifestyle Impacts. Time Commitment. Financial Commitment. Learning Commitment. Is a Saltwater Aquarium Right for Your Family? Chapter 2: Designing Your Saltwater Aquarium. Planning Basics. Philosophy of the Natural Aquarium.
Minireef or Fish-Only? What You'll Need. What You May Want. Where to Find Equipment and Supplies. How to Recognize Quality Saltwater Fish. Getting Ready. Chapter 3: Understanding How a Saltwater Aquarium Works. Physical and Chemical Cycles. Overview of the Coral Reef Environment.
Let Nature Take Its Course. Chapter 4 Stocking Your Tank I: Fish. The Best Home Aquarium Fish. Getting to Know Fish. Who Lives with Whom? Saltwater Fish Families. Popular Species for Fish-Only Tanks. Reef-Compatible Fish Species. Some Fish to Avoid.
Chapter 5: Stocking Your Tank II: Invertebrates. Invertebrate Groups. Invertebrate Roles in the Aquarium Community. Live Rock. Live Sand. Utilitarian Invertebrates. Photosynthetic Invertebrates. Clownfish Host Anemones.
Nonphotosynthetic Invertebrates. Seaweeds. Some Invertebrates to Avoid. Chapter 6: Stocking Your Tank III: Putting It All Together. Developing a Stocking Plan. Some Examples to Get You Started. Create Your Own Stocking Plan. Chapter 7: Setting Up Your Tank.
Setting Up a Quarantine Tank. Basic Setup for a Small Tank. Accommodating an Anemone. Setting Up a Larger System. Acclimating New Arrivals. Creating a Fish-Only Tank. Creating a Reef Habitat. Chapter 8: Keeping Your Aquarium Healthy.
Avoiding Maintenance Headaches. Feeding Fish. Feeding Invertebrates. Water Changes. Mixing Synthetic Seawater. Water Tests. Equipment Maintenance. The "Hurricane Effect".
Record Keeping. Family Aquarium Maintenance Routine. Chapter 9: Keeping Your Fish and Invertebrates Healthy. Why Problems Happen. When Should I Medicate the Fish? Invertebrate Parasites and Diseases. Special Considerations for Reef Tanks. Frequently Asked Questions. Chapter 10: Your Aquarium as Part of the Family.
Daily Care. On Vacation. Relocating. Appendix A: Useful Resources. How to Use this Appendix. Equipment and Maintenance Record. Specimen Acquisition Record. Tank Sitter Journal.
Fish Hospital Record. Saltwater Aquarium Log. Appendix B: Saltwater Fish and Invertebrates Sold for Home Aquariums. Appendix C: Glossary. Appendix D: Additional Saltwater Aquarium Resources. Periodicals. Organizations. Books.
Coloring Page. Index.