The Marine Aquarium

The Marine Aquarium (1969) by R.F.O. Connell – Sold by Crappy Old Books

Welcome to the undersea world of 1969, where the fish are groovy, the tanks are glass (mostly), and R.F.O. Connell is your stern-but-sensible guide to all things salty. The Marine Aquarium, published by John Gifford, is a no-nonsense deep dive into setting up and maintaining your very own slice of ocean at home—complete with bristle worms, bubbling filters, and the kind of fish that give freshwater snobs nightmares.

Written in that brisk, practical tone beloved by post-war British hobbyists, this book covers everything from tank setup and salinity to the delicate art of not killing your clownfish. Whether you’re a budding aquarist, a retro enthusiast, or just like books with faded dust jackets that smell of seaside lofts, this one’s a catch.

Condition: A bit yellowed, slightly warped from past proximity to a humid conservatory, and has possibly hosted a real barnacle. Still entirely readable and full of vintage marine charm.

Crappy Old Books: We don’t clean them. We just rescue them.

Ex-library book from Borough of Barnet Public Libraries, with protective cover. 154 pages and a few pages for your notes. This is a great book and really feels like books used to be. Cant quite put my finger on it, but it feels real

Keep browsing: See more Hobbies books Other books by RFO Connell