5 comments about The New Marine Aquarium: Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide.

1. Very good book. We also purchased the "Complete Idiot's Guide . . . " which is much more helpful for a tank setup.



2. I would have to say that this book is out dated and the info it does offer is very basic. would be ok for someone with just a passing interest in the hobby. But if you plan to set up a full reef I would look else were



3. This book will serve as a great start in learning the basics of setting up a saltwater aquarium. However the book left me with wanting to know more. After reading this book did not feel I had all the necessary knowledge to start my tank.



4. I just converted my freshwater 55g tank into a saltwater one. This book is a great reference book, providing lots of information on different fish, invertebrates, etc. including their aggressiveness and size. Glad I bought it!



5. This is a great first book for anyone looking to get into the hobby of keeping saltwater fish. It starts from the very beginning, but it doesn't get very deep. If you're looking for more you'll have to buy another book, this probably won't make you knowledgeable enough to actually KEEP marine fish.

5 comments about The Complete Book of the Freshwater Aquarium: A Comprehensive Reference Guide to More Than 600 Freshwater Fish and Plants.

1. Being new to aquariums and tropical fish, I found this book to be very helpful in all the basics. It is wonderfully illustrated and covers the major points. I wish it would give more suggestions for possible compatible communities of fish.



2. 
   I am currently 58 years young and have been into tropical fish ever since I was in the 5th grade. I occasionally purchase tropical fish books, enjoying looking at the various species and reading about them, even though I do not have most of them. I was very delighted with this particular book. Excellent illustrations of many breeds, with some good summary material with each one. Great information for beginners at the front of the book; and a lot of plants covered, with very helpful tips regarding them. Even the illustrations for the plants were excellent! One really gets one's money's worth with this book; it seems that it should cost a lot more than it actually does... a rarity in this day and age! Not a lot of specific information on temperature ranges for each species was provided, but you can easily get that in other books or on the web.



3. Ok, I live in Brazil. I bought a Freshwater aquarium for my young doughter and this "Complete Book of Freshwater Aquarium..."
   This book is a "semi-complete" reference guide. On of the most common fish in Brasilian aquarius is the Kinguio or Goldfish(Carassius auratus) [...] .
   I have searched every page, every word on index about my "Carassius auratus" with absolutely no success.
   I have other five species in the aquarium, and they are all in the book, with a compreensive information.
   But my goldfish...



4. People rating this book are overly picky and unfair. This is a great book for anyone who needs info on tropical fishkeeping.



5. The best thing about this book is that it does have a lot of content, it covers a lot of fish and plants with photos of almost all common, and some not so common. I saw another review that noted the absence of goldfish, this is true. The book's main downfall is that it is lacking detail, it is lacking things like ideal water parameters. I am glad I have it as a reference, but I am still looking for a good book that has more detailed info on the care of the fish, plants and aquarium in general.

5 comments about The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists (Microcosm/T.F.H. Professional).

1. Much praise has been heaped on this book and deservedly so, it is OUTSTANDING. I will simply say that it is extremely informative, beautifully illustrated and the ethical view point of the author is spot on. Buy this book even if you're only toying with the idea of getting a salt water aquarium!



2. An aquarist with years of experience recommended this book to me. He said he still uses this as a reference. The updated version was 10x more expensive so I thought I would try this one out. Author provides history to keeping marine life, and much of the information is relevant now. I think updates in lighting are not covered here but that is about it.



3. I bought this as a Christmas gift for my son and husband. They are both thoroughly enjoying it!



4. I am new to the hobby and have purchased several books on saltwater, this book is awesome! The author is very thorough on the subject matter and I'm sure it'll be my ultimate reference as I delve into the wonderful world of marine life. I cannot say enough about this meritorious book! I highly reccomend this book.



5. This is an absolute MUST HAVE book for the new saltwater aquarist! It is very well written in easy to understand language. The author is a highly respected authority in the field, earning praise from both hobbyists and other professionals. If you are thinking about setting up a saltwater aquarium, I strongly suggest you get a copy of this book first. It is well worth the money and will provide you with an abundance of good, sound, and trustworthy advise.

5 comments about Aquarium Corals : Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History.

1. Im a newbie when it comes to Marine.
   
   But this Book is the Ultimate Book when you want to learn about all types of CORALS!!!
   
   I highly recommend this book and the amount you paid is nothing compared to the contents of this book...
   
   Well done!



2. Reads like a college level text book. Very informative, very well thought out. Had good pics as well. Would most definitely recommend to a friend, actually already have recommended to a friend. Get it if you want to learn more about caring for corals.



3. Eric's Borneman's CORALS is an excellent resource for the advanced and beginner hobbyist alike. It provides beautiful photos and detailed descriptions of corals in their native habitat as well as their place in our aquariums. The information is as up to date as you could hope from any book and the information invaluable. It's neatly organized and makes great use of it's large glossary which makes it's an easy and education read.
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a reef aquarium or corals in general. It is easily my favorite aquarium book and most referenced.



4. This book defintely lived up to my expectations. Lots of photos, captions, and detailed descriptions.



5. Not only is this book the most informative I have found but there are so many photos to reference. I would recommend to everyone that wants to keep a reef aquarium to add to your library. Well worth the price.

5 comments about Saltwater Aquariums For Dummies (For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback)).

1. Very thorough and uncomplicated overview of how to set up and maintain a marine aquarium. i would have made alot of serious and pretty dumb mistakes without it.



2. very informational helped me make a decision that salt water wasn't for me saved me a buunncchh of money i recommend for any one who thinks they want a salt water aquarium takes the guessing out of it



3. This book is as the title describes. It provides good information for someone who is starting an aquarium and does not know anything. It is simple and a good place to start. If you know a good deal about aquariums and aquatic systems already this book is probably too simple.



4. This is a good book for those who are just starting out with a new salt water tank, as well as for those who have a well established tank. The best part about the book is that you don't have to read it cover to cover--you can find a subject/topic that you are interested in (or an area that you may be having questions or problems with) and skip right to that part of the book!



5. This book is excellent. I am setting up a saltwater aquarium for the first time and I feel like this was the best place to start. Good info that I could understand. I highly recommend this book to others.

5 comments about A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Fishes: 500+ Essential-To-Know Aquarium Species.

1. This of course yet another miniature essential pocket expert guide book what it lacks in been a indispensible know-how reference book it makes up for in clear expert advice on captive breeding care in a bizarre sustainable enviroment



2. There is not too much to say about this guide other than it has just about every marine fish I could think of, and that it's great, and accurate! This is a must have for absolutely anyone involved in any way with saltwater tanks. Be sure to pick up the companion Invertebrate guide too!



3. Great book. Good information on saltwater species for tanks. tells you everything you need to know about the fish and how to take care of it.



4. Everything written by Scott Michael is EXCELLENT! He's my favorite aquatic author. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND all of his books!



5. I absolutely LOVED this book when I had my saltwater tank. It was invaluable for selecting the right fish for my set up. (Great detail on behavior, aggressiveness, space needs, whether or not compatible with coral, feeding needs, etc.) And the pictures can NOT be beat! Now that I am doing freshwater, I am trying frantically to find a book that was even half as useful and I am somewhat hard pressed. This book is a must have in my opinion.

5 comments about Ecology of the Planted Aquarium: A Practical Manual and Scientific Treatise for the Home Aquarist, Second Edition.

1. I haven't been able to find another book like this. It gives very practical advise for how to setup a successful inexpensive and low maintenance aquarium, but also builds a deeper understanding of the underlying ecology. The scientific detail is quite exceptional for a hobby book, but is explained in plain English and related to very practical advise for specific common aquarium questions.
   
   If you want lists of fish and plants with colored pictures, this is probably not the right book (I've found the internet to be the best for that sort of thing). If you want a quick start guide to setting up an aquarium, this is also probably not the easiest book to quickly skim through. However, I've found it to be worth the effort to understand how to setup an aquarium right and save yourself a lot of trouble later. Scientific background or previous experience with aquariums is not necessary to appreciate this book, just some patience and curiosity.



2. I totally love this book. I own and saw a lot of books for hobbyists but never had the idea that the writer knew about what's in this book. It will tell you about the biological and chemical processes in the substrate and water and make you understand it's importance. Furthermore she gives very clear guidelines about what her preferred way of fish keeping.
   
   Brilliant!



3. My only regret regarding this book is that I didn't get to read it many years ago. You really need to make a choice when you are considering setting up an aquarium. You're either going to do it the old way, where you attempt to control water quality by relatively artificial means, with a few real or plastic plants in the water for appearance sake, or you design an underwater garden where you depend on the plants to flourish and take care of the water quality themselves. Okay, it's not quite that simple, and aquariums have a lot to do with fish and other aquatic creatures too, but these are not more important than the plants. Quite the other way around. In any case, Diana Walstad presents the second alternative in a very understandable way. Not that I can understand absolutely everything that she wrote. But she did stimulate me to recall everything I could from high school chemistry, and I would guess that even if you remember no chemistry at all, you won't have any trouble skipping over the heavy stuff and finding the practical applications. And I assure you that the more you put Diana Walstad's principles and instructions to work, the more joy you will take in your aquarium. You will also save yourself a lot of work and probably save some money. Or so it has worked out for me. At least, give yourself a chance and read the book. She isn't mainstream, but she's inspiring, and her erudition and depth of experience are in evidence throughout the book. If you care at all about aquatic life, this is a fun read.



4. Full of information and yes, it works. So happy I can maintain a beautiful aquarium full of thriving plants and fish without CO2 injections, halogen lights, etc.



5. a bit technical - but easily the most easily understood, thorough , and hobbyist friendly book on the subject - a must have for anyone trying to grow aquatic plants in aquaria

5 comments about The Reef Aquarium, Vol. 3: Science, Art, and Technology.

1. I have the 1st 2 of these books and was excited that they came out with this new and updated version. Reef aquariums have come SO far in the last few years. I have only had a chance to read the 1st chapter of this book so far, but I love it and would recommend for even the more knowledgeable aquarium enthusiast.



2. This is an excellent book for a reef hobbyist with some experience but who craves more knowledge. If you are new to the hobby I would read The Conscientious Marine Aquarist first by Fenner but definitely add this to your library as well. This book goes into great detail about everything from selecting the size of your sand base to selecting food for corals and everything in between. I'm reading it all the way through but it makes a great, if not essential, reference manual to add to your library. I highly recommend this book to any one in the hobby.



3. I bought this book by recomendation, and started to study it few weeks ago. I've found complete and detailed answers for all my questions.



4. This is the book to get if you would like to learn how to set up and maintain a reef tank. This can book can save a lot of heartache.



5. I also have Vol. 1 & 2 which were very good as Vol. 3 combines detailed, truthful information about all aspects of the recent marine aquarium hobby. Delbeek & Sprung in Vol. 3 combine their extensive knowledge and experiences from years of working in the hobby and helping fellow aquarists. Their prior volumes go into detail describing and classifying the different fish and corals. Vol. 3 however goes into detail about the equipment and chemical processes. I very much like this book because everything they state is truthful and based on facts and scientific data. They never assume anything like other authors do. HTH

5 comments about Freshwater Aquariums For Dummies.

1. I am not a fast reader and the way this book is written, I was able to finish it very fast. I learned a LOT from this book.



2. This book provides everything a beginner needs to start this hobby. It is also organized to be a quick reference later. There are many common sense hints included and the explanations of why, instead of just how, lend credibility to the authors. The information in this book has been confirmed through other readings on the subject. I have found other "Dummies" books to be just as informative and organized.



3. This book is exactly as it should be. A beginners aquarium book. it tells you, step by step, how to set-up an aquarium. It isn't great for an expert, but that's not who it was designed for. I'd recommend it to anyone just starting out in the hobby or who would just like to have a finned friend. If you've purchased any of the other boks in this series, you won't be disappointed. It's in the same style, with pictures, and safety tips, and must knows, to get your hands wet in short enough time.



4. I am very disappointed in this book. It has mistakes and much of the information is out of date. For example, in a discussion of the nitrate cycle, a complex topic for many, the authors have confused nitrate and nitrite. This makes the discussion worthless. The discussion on classification is out of date as DNA studies have caused many changes to the whole sytem.



5. This book isn't too bad, but there's definately better out there. The humor is kind of lame, as it is in all dummy books, but overall the information is sound. However, there are a few exceptions, like who still uses undergravel filters? or even still has a film camera anymore...thats right there's a whole chapter dedicated to photographing your fish. Not to mention there are also a ton of typos in this book, which is kind of ridiculuous for a second edition. Overall it covers just about everything, but not in any great detail....you'd do better to find something else.

5 comments about A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Invertebrates: 500+ Essential-to-Know Aquarium Species.

1. This book is amazing. Its great for those who are just interested in learning about marine invertebrates to those who use it as a reference guide to keep their salt water aquarium. I use this book and the rest of the Pocket Expert book on a daily basis. Seriously everyone in this hobby should own them all.



2. I have found this useful to get brief info on a wide variety of invertebrates. I don't find myself reading it as often as other books however. Good to have on the shelf though.



3. Great book. Good information on lots of tank species. Really lets you know if a specific species is good for your tank or not.



4. This is an excellent quick guide to help you making your invertebrates "wish list", and also very helpful to carry it when going shopping for new inverts. Each page provides a picture and useful information about the portrayed invertebrate, compatibility with fishes and other inverts, etc.
   
   It could be a little better if the author gave a score from 1 to 5 like the author from "A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Fishes" did. Also, a better clarification on light levels would be important. Just saying "bright", "medium", etc isn't enough for a beginner like myself.



5. clear, well done and with clear explanations....Since invertebrates can be very hard to identify, specifically corals, this book takes a lot of the guess work out of it.