Hello!

I love a good book recommendation. In a hobby as full of opinions as aquarium keeping, solid information can be hard to find. Online guides and YouTube videos can be insightful and inspiring, but they often contradict one another, making it difficult for beginners to know what actually works.

That’s why I keep coming back to books. A well-written book gives you context and understanding — not just what to do, but why to do it. Below is a short list of titles I return to again and again. It’s not exhaustive, but if you’re just starting out, these are the books I’d hand you first.

1. Sunken Gardens — Karen Randall

Karen Randall’s Sunken Gardens is a masterclass. It’s passionate, approachable, and full of practical wisdom. Randall strikes a balance between science and art, and you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of your aquarium as a living system.
[Available on Amazon]

2. Aquascaping — George Farmer

George Farmer brings design and inspiration to the foreground. His work is stunning, but his writing remains accessible — he wants you to try, not just admire. Farmer’s focus on creativity and expression makes this an ideal follow-up to Randall's work.
[Available on Amazon]

3. Ecology of the Planted Aquarium — Diana Walstad

This is the cornerstone of the soil-based approach. Walstad’s book combines scientific insight with practical tips that challenge convention. It is dense in places, and can be daunting for beginners, but it is worth its weight in gold. Everyone who has this book on their shelf has read it multiple times. When in doubt, this is my reference.
[Available on Amazon]

4. Teaming with Microbes — Jeff Lowenfels & Wayne Lewis

This isn’t an aquarium book, but it is definitely worth reading. Teaming with Microbes explores the soil food web — the complex partnerships that sustain all life. For anyone setting up a soil-based tank, this is an incredibly helpful read that will deepen your understanding of soil ecology and help you understand the mindset of the soil-based approach.
[Available on Amazon]

5. The Tub Pond Handbook — Dr. Ted Coletti

This is a great book for expanding the aquarium hobby! This book is your roadmap for taking an indoor hobby outdoors. Coletti shows how to start 'summer tubbing' — safely, practically, and with a sense of fun. His enthusiasm is infectious.
[Available on Amazon]

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Beyond those five here are a couple more to add to your list:

Bonus 1: How to Create an Organic Aquarium — Oliver Jamieson (me!)

I may be biased (I am definitely biased), but if you’re new to soil-based aquariums, my book is for you. It distills what I have learned from the authors above and from my own experiences and makes it practical for beginners.
[Available on Amazon]

Bonus 2: Aquatic Habitats — Tai Streitman (coming soon)

Tai Streitman’s upcoming Aquatic Habitats promises to connect the aquarium hobby with the habitats of its subjects. The combination of natural history and aquascaping looks insightful and inspiring and I can’t wait to read it.
[Available on Amazon]

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Cheers,

Oli