I Need A Plant Id Book

[WendyinWichita]

Looking online doesn't give me the information I need, I really need to be able to get my hands on a book and look through it.

I have a few books, The Nature Aquarium World, series of 3, and I have The Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants by Peter Hiscock.

I want a book that is more complete, has good photos and descriptions. I hope to get both scientific and common names for the plants, their lighting requirements and care needs, how to propagate etc.

Feel free to make any comments or suggestions!

I do use the web for most things, but there are times I wish I had a book in hand while at a shop looking at plants.

 

[zig]

Christal Kasselman-Aquarium Plants

This is generally regarded as the best reference book for plant identification etc, it is quite expensive but by all accounts well worth it, the next book i buy will be this one.

Diane Walsted-Ecology of the Planted Aquarium

This is another highly regarded book which would be next on my list after the above, given a choice the Kasselman book would be the one i would choose, but i believe both are excellent.

 

[BigC]

http/www.wcf.com/tropica/

 

[Jen]

Wow! Thats only $15 US... I have 'The Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants by Peter Hiscock' as well... and it cost me 38 cad. I should find out if they ship to canada!

 

[George Farmer]

For plant identification the Kasselman book is best. She has a new book too called "Planted Aquariums" - it is around half the price of "Aquarium Plants" but doesn't focus on the plants themselves as much.

Walstad's book is very scientific, like a text book. It has very few photographs or pictures but is great for those wishing to delve into the subject a little deeper. I find it quite hard to read in parts, it helps if you have sound scientific-based background knowledge.

It is very much bias towards the low-tech planted tank i.e. moderate lighting, non-CO2 injection, soil-substrate. Some may say a little irrelevant in parts for the high-tech hobbyist but very interesting nonetheless. I find the chapter on allelopathy particularly fascinating, the closest answer I have yet to understanding algae control.

 

[WendyinWichita]

Thank you so much for the recommendations!

I will begin looking at Amazon.com first uninterrupted computer time I get!