Illustrated with over 300 full-color photographs and drawings, Freshwater Aquariums presents the essential information that all freshwater fish keepers need to know to create their own well-balanced and thriving freshwater aquarium. A stylish, easy-to-read guide filled with practical and reliable advice, this Aquamaster title harnesses the experience of authors Stuart Thraves, Peter Hiscock, and Gina Sandford, all noteworthy writers and highly skilled fish keepers. The first section of the book is a DIY manual for setting up a freshwater aquarium, detailing the types of substrates, furnishings, and plants recommend for keepers and offering information on lighting, filtration, and water management. The authors also include basic husbandry info on feeding and health care of freshwater fish as well as maintaining a clean tank.

The second section of the book, “Fish, Plants, and Themed Aquariums,” presents a selection of popular freshwater fish and aquarium plants plus a look at some ideas for setting up aquariums that reflect natural habitats around the world. The author recommends that hobbyists consider fish by their families or groups so that they can set up the right conditions for them. The book features the following groups: cichlids, catfish, barbs, characins, anabantoids, danios and rasboras, rainbowfish, livebears, and loaches and sharks. The discussion of aquarium plants describes over 30 popular options, alphabetically arranged from Anubias barteri to Vallisneria spiralis ‘Tiger.’ The author shares six imaginative themed aquariums, including information on substrates, display, plants, filtration, and suitable fish. The themes include mountain stream, Central American river, flooded Amazon forest, Congo whitewater river, Lake Malawi, and Southeast Asian swamp.