Jim

OK, so I went to the bookstore today, and came across the greatest book. It's by Peter Hiscock, who wrote the excellent "Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants" (which I already have).
This one is called "Aquarium Designs Inspired By Nature". It is an amazing book on not only planted aquariums, but recreating actual eco-systems from around the world!
The first part of the book is a goldmine of info about planted aquariums and recreating eco-systems in general. And the second section, the bulk of the book, is on actual worldwide regional displays. These are the different regional sections:

Chinese mountain Stream
Central American stream
Central American river
Australian river
European river
European lake
Flooded Amazon forest
Amazon acid pool
Downriver Amazon
Congo whitewater river
West african streambed
Lake Malawi
A darkened cave (this one is very very interesting!)
Southeast Asian stream
Southeast Asian swamp
Indian river
Brackish estuary
Mangrove swamp


Now hows that for a list? Each section gives details on both fish and plants for the region, as well as suggestions for decorations, driftwood, rocks and even substrate. There's also lots of info on water chemestry, lighting, and recommended filters (like big fast pumping HOBs for the Congo whitewater river). There's also a lot of general facts and info for the regions, which I like.
Guys, girls, I know I've read some posts about making things like an all Asian planted tank for a betta. I'm telling you all, this is definitly the book to get. I paid $25.00 (american) for the hardback, and I'm totally satisfied it was worth every penny.

Butterfly

Is this the book? http://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Desig...7162065&sr=1-1 if it is it's very nice indeed
Carol

Jim

Yes, that's it. Isabella mentioned it on her post about low light planted aquariums, so I've had my eye out for it. This book is definitly NOT for someone with MTS!!!!

Butterfly

Oh no it will make the disease spread faster LOl
Carol

tkfury

Saddly when I went to the library to do some reseach before I even found this site while I was just thinking about starting a tank, I picked up that book as well as a few other aquascaping books. I got sucked into MTS before I even had a tank and knew what MTS was.

Tom

That's the book that my dad and I used to design my 36 gallon when I first got it. We used the slopped part for the left corner and the cave idea for the right corner and I have tried to maintain that for this time, but gravel likes to become level, so everysooften, I have to fix that.
Tom

Jim

I think the only way to really keep a good sloped area is to have a lawn with somethng like pygmy chainswords. That way the roots should hold the substrate in place.

Rivght now I'm looking at maybe making a darkened cave environment for my 44 gallon Hex tank. It's tall and can't support much light, and making a low light tank with just albino and blind cave fish (if I can get any) and maybe a couple shrimp could be a VERY cool idea!

MagpieTear

Cool book, found it at Borders today while I finished my Christmas shpping. Ho ho ho to me.

Isabella

Love this book I bought mine on Amazon.com - you'll get it much cheaper there than at most bookstores.