5 comments about Natural Reef Aquariums: Simplified Approaches to Creating Living Saltwater Microcosms.

1. This is a very good book for those wishing to begin reef aquariums. Some of it is theory and some is opinions. Other sections are a little deep for the common person but overall it is a solid basis for those wishing to begin reep keeping. Reading this book should go a long ways to being successful keeping the different types of reefs.l



2. i am expecting the book to be a good one giving the inside i want to living filtration and a completely natural aquarium with very little artificial filtration help! i can not say yet if it will meet my expectances since i have order the book more than 2 months ago and i am still waiting for it....



3. Recently I've read several books pertaining to the tropical marine hobby and after reading this book by Mr. Tullock I rate it an eleven out of ten. Very informative, easy to digest, excellent format, and one to refer to in the future. A quality production by the publisher. Thank you Mr. Tullock!



4. Well written and a good book to read for general information.



5. Buy and read this book twice before you decide to enter the hobby. Check it out at the library.. This is the book I loan to any friend who sees my aquarium and thinks of starting a tank of their own. Mr. Tullock presents the current natural methods of reef keeping in a very entertaining read.

5 comments about The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums (Simple Guide to...).

1. This book could be a good tool if it was organized a little bit. I found it difficult to locate the information I was looking for from the index. If you have the time to read it as you would a novel, you might find useful information. If, like me, you need a guide to setting up a fresh-water aquarium and some info on fish and plants, it is a little too scattered in various sections that didn't make much sense to me...



2. This book is an outstanding and easy to read resource for anyone who is interested in setting up an aquarium. I read it cover to cover. I often refer to it as "my fish Bible"! I have lent this book to friends who were troubleshooting common aquarium problems, and they too have found it to be extremely useful.
   
   The goal of the book is to give you a wealth of information BEFORE you buy your tank and your fish. It will help you to not make common mistakes. However, this book is a great resource or "refresher course" for those already interested and involved in the fishkeeping hobby.
   
   This book is an overview on the main setup of a freshwater tank. While it does go into individual species a bit, you may want to get more specific and specialized books about the species you are interested in. The parts about individual species are not very in-depth.
   
   Overall -- this is a fantastic resource, and your fish will thank you for getting this book!
   
   Good luck, and happy fishkeeping!



3. I purchased this a couple years ago after having been out of the Aquarium hobby for several years and then deciding to get back in again. I found it to be very informative, building on what I learned 20-30 years ago and outlining many considerations that, today, are common knowledge in the hobby, but was unkown by the average aquarist of the 70s & 80s.
   
   Very good book to read before you add fish to your new aquarium!



4. I just started my first tank with my roommate and we refer to the book as the fish bible...
   
   It has been so helpful to have a source of info like this so we know what we need to get and what the pet store people are just trying to sell us to make a few bucks. Very good info on how to set up the tank and which fish to put in. Also very helpful on how to keep your first fish alive and how to go about getting a full tank. Overall I'm extremely happy that I bought this book as it has walked me through starting my own tank.



5. However, if you do have moderate experience in managing aquariums, this book probably won't be as relevant. For someone just starting out, this book offers plenty of simple instructions and explanations to help you on your journey!
   
   I especially appreciate that Boruchowitz encourages those new to the aquarium hobby to go with lower lighting and low-light plants. This will save you so much money, time, and frustration in the beginning, making the tank a lot easier and more enjoyable to manage.
   
   The author's suggestion to give with larger tanks is also sound advice. 10-gallon and nano tanks are better left for the more experienced hobbyist. Larger = more stable water parameters.
   
   When mentioning substrates, I don't feel the author went into quite enough detail. He tells of the proper pebble sizes for inert gravel but does not include examples of what can be combined with it to create an environment more suitable for your aquatic plants. For inert gravel, you can add laterite to the bottom layer. Some people use peat moss. If you decide to go with a substrate specifically designed to stand alone in your aquarium, ADA AquaSoil, Carib Sea Eco-Complete, and Seachem Flourite are great options. Or they can be mixed with or added to the lower layer of inert gravel. ;)
   
   When stating which catfish are suitable for beginners, I do think Otocinclus catfish ("oto") deserve recognition too. They're great for cleaning algae off plants though they are fairly sensitive (not very hardy).

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

1. For those really interested in maintaining a planted aquarium and those looking for reading on chemical and biological interaction between soil, water and plants this book is a mandatory one. Walstad exposes on a perfect scientific way (but still readable) how a mini-ecosystem like an aquarium works.



2. This book has a lot of scientific data and an analytical feel to it. The writter put a lot of thought into this book and provided a lot of information not found in most aquarium books. She focuses on low tech tanks which is nice for those of us that don't have a lot of money to invest in equipment but want the look of a planted tank. I recommend this book to anyone that has a low tech tank or is interested in a different perspective on planted tanks.



3. This book can be useful to the layman and has the depth for the pro.
   
   The author clearly knows her subject and has the technical expertise. The biology and chemistry is over my head (it has been a loooong time since taking those classes), but it is actually readable. Some items simply have to be taken on faith if you haven't got the background to fully comprehend everything. In other words, one does not have to understand 'redox equations' to get the content.
   
   I haven't tried her methods yet, but I am intrigued. It goes against most of my library, but she makes a lot of sense.



4. First of all, I gave "Ecology ..." 4 stars rather 5 as my feeling is that a "Practical Manual" might offer some options in terms of an author's preference. And, being a "Manual," it may also present "Trouble shooting" type of pointers, or "How to find your way back if a different path was selected." I believe the above are areas that could have been addressed in better fashion. However, that said, "Ecology..." is really an excellent source. D. Walstad tackles subjects with both the scientific base as well as personal experience. At times, the scientific base is (for may tastes and background) a little too involved. But, sprinkled throughout, we have questions with answers. I really liked that. I also liked her chapter that basically dealt with "This has worked for me...." The author dispels some myths in terms of natural sunlight and carbon supplementation that generally runs against current trends. What I thought might be improved:
   1) A chapter devoted to, "How to rectify a situation without a total breakdown of the aquarium."
   2) Options to "Plotting soil"(gardening soil)in the substrate. For those of us who don't feel confident in running off to Wal-Mart for our substrate.
   3. More information on filtration; I'm a little skeptical in terms of the plants "Can do it all."
   But, compared to the other book also purchased, "Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants," I very much like the author stating in clear terms "This has worked for me." With "Encyclopedia," you need dig to find this information.



5. A GOOD BOOK IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE LINGO - I DID NOT. THE BOOK WAS WAY TO TECHNICAL FOR MY POOR BRAIN. I TRIED TO READ IT BUT JUST COULD NOT. I ORDERED THE BOOK BY MISTAKE (AGAIN MY POOR BRAIN). SENT IT BACK AND WAS GIVEN A RAPID REFUND IN ACCORDANCE WITH AMAZON POLICY. I HAVE NO QUARLS ABOUT PAYING THE SHIPPING AND APPRECIATE THE ABILITY TO RETURN AM ITEM WHEN THE ONLY REASON I RECEIVED IT WAS THROUGH MY ERROR. I GIVE THE BOOK AND AMAZON 5 STARS AND MY SELF 1. IF YOU ARE REAL SMART BUY THE BOOK BUT IF YOU ARE JUST "PURTY" SMART LOOK ELSEWHERE.
   THANK YOU AMAZON!!!!
   RED CRANE
   JUST A "PURTY" SMART COUNTRY BOY

5 comments about The Nano-Reef Handbook.

1. This book is an excellent place for beginners to start learning about keeping a nano-reef. It contains some good basic information about getting started and choosing livestock. Some topics are a little overdone but in my opinion that is better than too little information. If you have already been keeping a nano-reef for some time you will probably find one or two helpful things that you may not have known but for an experiended reefer who is looking to improve their skills I would look elsewhere. But once again if you are new to the hobby I recomend this book as an excellent starting place.



2. The seller that I bought this book was great..no problem there. However this was not the book I thought it would be. While lacking in some major areas the book seemed to "dumb itself down" for lack of better terms. People that are researching reef aquariums would be much better off if information was dumbed down for them. This causes confusion in general. The book while helpful on some points lacked any real "meat" to say the least. If I was going on a point system 1-5 I'd rate it about a 2.



3. all the information that yo need to a succesfull start with nano reef's



4. this book was only helpful to me when selecting which fish I would put in my nano reef aquarium. other than that it was a waste of time. way too much unnecessary information.



5. A "nano-reef" is an aquarium that is less than 15 gallons in total volume and houses reef organisms -- and especially suited for a home, office, or classroom. An aquarium hobbyist for more than 25 years, Christopher Brightwell draws upon his experience and expertise in The Nano-Reef Handbook to provide aspiring aquarium developers with a comprehensive, "user friendly" instructional guide to creating and maintaining their nano-reef aquarium including such factors as filtration, lighting, temperature control, water chemistry, and identifying more than thirty of the most highly recommended fishes and invertebrates for placement into their nano-reef aquarium. Whether a novice or seasoned aquarium enthusiast, The Nano-Reef Handbook will prove to be of exceptional interest, especially with respect to increasing the probability of success through suggested routine maintenance and sensible stock levels, creating a balanced system throughout the entire nano-reef habitat. Anyone considering establishing their own aquarium nano-reef should give Christopher Brightwell's strongly recommended The Nano-Reef Handbook a very careful reading.

5 comments about Algae: A Problem Solver Guide (Oceanographic Series).

1. For marine aquarium Reef Keepers this is a very useful reference to identify and control nuisance algae blooms!



2. This book breaks down algae into groups, tells you the good, the bad and the ugly, and how to deal with it. It caught my eye searching for info on refugium filters and I'm very pleased with it. Even if you don't plan to use an algal filtration system you should own it, because you will have algae in your aquarium almost immediately so why not be prepared. Not all algae is bad and after you read this book you'll be able to identify the ones you want to get rid of. Although, the author does like to use very large words, so get your dictionary out, it is still readable. It's not a very big book and gets straight to the point without "opinions or stories" and it doesn't have a hefty price tag either.



3. As a professional aquarium maintenance professional, I have found this book an invaluable tool in controlling algea in salt water/reef tanks.



4. this is a good primmer for somone starting a new tank, or just as good 'ole reference material. this does not necessarly give any 'new' solutions, but does reinforce the classic, water changes, manual removal, etc.



5. This book is a decent guide to various types of algae. If you have an algae bloom this book is very handy. It tells you what types are good and what types are bad. It also tells you how to keep the bad types in check.

5 comments about The Complete Illustrated Breeder's Guide to Marine Aquarium Fishes.

1. Let me put it short and sweet - if you are considering the cutting edge of the aquarium hobby, you're talking Marine Fish Breeding, and this book will literally bring you up to speed on the last 40 years of marine ornamental fish breeding right up to 2007. Matthew Wittenrich continues to be on the cutting edge, having raised more than one new species since the publication of this all-encompassing review of hobbyist-level marine fish propagation. This book, covering over 50 successfully reared marine fish species, is enough to give the average hobbyist decades of "projects" to reattempt, as well as providing current insight into how future breakthroughs and acheivements might be reached. Easily worth 4-5 times the price you'll pay. Simply a book that will floor you.



2. Matt Witterich's book `The Complete Illustrated Breeder's Guide to Marine Aquarium Fishes' is aptly titled. The book discusses comprehensively the details of marine ornamental captive culture, from broodstock rearing, breeding to larval rearing of up to 90+ species. This work distilled the author's decade-long experience in ornamental fish culture, making the hobby more accessible to beginners and adding new insights to the repertoire of professional hobbyist. The breadth, meticulous detail, scientific precision and excellent photography show the expertise and dedication of the author in the field of marine ornamental culture- not just as a hobbyist but as a scientific researcher in the field. While this book will undoubtedly become an indispensable `guidebook' for the hobbyist, I believe that the book will become very useful as a reference for colleges and universities teaching in ornamental fish culture and to researchers in the field. This book advances both the art and the science of ornamental fish culture!



3. As a breeder of clownfish in the past, I'm always interested in what progress is being made in breeding marine ornimentals. Those of like mind may wonder, as I do, why more captive bred exotics arent offered in the trade. I've heard pygmy angels are being bred, why aren't I seeing many in the shops and internet dealers? When I do see them, why are they so expensive, do they not disperse thousands of eggs when they spawn? Can I succeed in bringing a new tank raised species through metamorphosis? Are successful breeders of newly reared species sharing their secrets? Is it worth trying to breed something new without a huge bankroll?
   
   Some of these questions are answered, some not. There is little doubt, however, that anyone interested in the subject would be glad that they picked up this book. The concepts described in the text are clarified with very good photography, and it offers a new perspective on a lot of things that anyone who has ever tinkered with this sort of thing would be interested in.



4. Whether you're a hobbyist, enthusiast, or entrepreneur of saltwater fish this book is necessary collection for your library. This book covers everything from setting up tanks properly, to choosing and spawning your broodstock and most importantly larval care. The secret steps of larval care and diet are described for 90+ species and accompanied with easy to follow fabulous photos. After reading through the steps in the book I was able to successfully, spawn and rear Neon Dottybacks to metamorphisis. A definite must!



5. Author Matt Wittenrich is gifted with the patience and rational powers of observation that enable him to capture the important details the need to be reproduced in order for the various species of marine fishes to reproduce themselves. Breeding marine fishes is obviously the author's life's work, and it is truly to his credit that he shares step-by-step instructions from his immense store of knowledge about these fishes that for so long had been considered impossible to breed in the home. Fantastic photography of larvae, breeding sequences, sexual dimorphism, equipment, and more.

5 comments about The Reef Aquarium: A Comprehensive Guide to the Identification and Care of Tropical Marine Invertebrates (Volume 1).

1. This book came in a timely fashion and was very well kept. Great book to read when looking for the answers to questions you may have. Awesome purchase.



2. This series is well worth every penny. You can find a lot of books for less but that is what you are getting. Save yourself some money and get the series that thoroughly do cover every aspect of the hobby in amazing detail. This series is amazing and you will love it. It is a bit scientific but it does not leave anything out.



3. New hobbyist should read this book for advice, then read it again in 6 months.



4. The good?
   
   This book is truly a comprehensive piece covering probably more than you want to know at times. For example, it explains the chemical reactions that occur during calcification of corals and why additions are necessary.
   
   After reading many other references, I must say I am very happy I purchased this volume. Contained in these pages are insights you won't find anywhere else.
   
   The book clearly explains the setup and maintenance procedures required to be successful in stony coral reef keeping.
   
   The bad?
   
   My main gripe is trivial. Guys, how about a larger font size and pictures? I had to do a lot of squinting.
   
   It could do with a minor revision of some references that are dated (such as collection of live rock from Florida) as the original was 1994, but make no mistake that all information is relevant.
   
   In summary...
   
   Obviously at this price it is unfortunately out of reach of the casual hobbyist, which is a shame. However, one could buy this book instead of various "reference manuals" which might be the same at the end of the day.
   
   Buy it if you can afford it.
   
   I also highly recommend Eric Borneman's Aquarium Corals book.



5. An exceptional book on the subject. It is comprehensive but I would not say not complete as no book on this subject could be. Still I believe this book to be the best work compiled in book form. Described by many as "the Bible" on the subject it indeed may be but it is not dogmatic as it offers several options and methods and leaves it for the aquarist to use.
   (Note: This volume covers stony corals and not soft corals).
   When I started keeping marine aquaria keeping back in 1970 one almost had to employ the skills of a chemist. In those days most people in the hobby  thought it nearly impossible to care for many of the species of coral now commonly kept. It was only through the encouragement of a local public aquarium (the John G. Shedd Aquarium) whereas a high school student I was able to participate in collecting trips that I got the encouragement to experiment. I started out with Robert Straughan's books back in 1970 which both helped to get me in trouble and helped me grow as an aquarist. both In those days there was an awful lot of trial and error. Later in the late 70's I helped to pioneer some techniques when I worked for the Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco. In those days in San Francisco I worked for one of the largest marine fish wholesalers in the world. We had a lot of shipments that went off to Germany and now I wonder if some of the species that passed through my hands ended up in the hands of the authors. Somewhat of a revolution went of in the hoby in the 1980 thanks in part to the efforts of the Germans. Thankfully the hobby is now much more of a discipline and a lot more humane. It is quite amazing how far the hobby has come. I am sure the hobby will continue to evolve. This is a pricey book but it is a pricey hobby and this book is one of the best, if not the best, books on the subject available. The best place to start with the hobby is a book like this one.

5 comments about Clownfishes.

1. If you want to raise clownfish or just want to know everything about them, this is definitely the book for you. I lost my copy and tore my house apart to find it and finally had to purchase a new one - just can't live without it.
   For raising clownfish, she covers everything from spawning, hatching, catching, feeding, raising food, illnesses, selling, etc. It's amazing how many times I've had a problem, looked in the book, and she wrote about it.
   This is definitely 'the bible' for raising clownfish.



2. it was really informative. I feel when i am ready i may be able to mate my clowns successfully with confidence. i also appriciate the background the author went into.



3. This reads well and has great background on breeding clownfishes. It gives you the right level of detail to understand what you will have to do to be successful. I have been breeding clownfish with this and another book as my guides and this is the better one of the two. The other is more detailed but so scientific it is confusing. This one is reasonable as a resource. I have an M.A. in aquatic botany so I understand jargon, but breeding fish is a practical activity for many of us, not a scientific research endeavor. You'll like this as a resource if breeding these interesting fish.
   
   Good luck
   
   Tim



4. Of the many books i got, this is by far the most detailed. Also because it focuses on one kind of fish i guess.
   pretty detailed info is available on the various clownfish types, some of the behaviours are also listed to understand your pet a little better.
   
   not a book focussed on filling pages for sure. however, a bit more was expected for detailed trouble shooting issues concerned to behaviours.
   
   overall a nice book if you want to get to know your clown or the anemones.



5. If you're interested in keeping clownfish, this is the perfect book. The author goes into appropriate detail on what is needed to keep clownfish, what kinds of anemones can be kept with them (and their requirements), and how to breed them if you're so inclined. I found the book very easy to understand and not overly burdened with scientific and technical language. I also thought she had a very funny sense of humor that is sprinkled throughout. The pictures are great and she's actually had experience with most species in captivity and is able to make careful distictions to specific characteristics or needs of the different species. Some things I found especially helpful were the chapter on clownfish nutrition (she's really done her homework on that) and the common sense approaches to copepod cultivation for feeding baby clownfish. A great book for those keeping clownfish, even if you're not interested in breeding them.

5 comments about The Inspired Aquarium: Ideas and Instruction for Living with Aquariums.

1. This book is an awesome general overview for those that are researching a big budget build.
   It is not a reference guide for someone researching specific reef, planted,community fish aquaria info.
   There are many other books that serve that purpose.
   You will see many aspects of aquaria installed in some very unique situations by a great team who do this everyday from their facility in Houston.



2. I thought this was more of a book about building aquariums.
   It is a book with very nice photos, of very fancy aquariums in expensive places.
   Not much help for the average homeowner.



3. When I first started to read this book, I thought that it was only for the wealthy, since it deals largely with huge custom-made tanks in built-in cabinetry, or how to work an aquarium into your blueprints. It even refers to a 72-gallon aquarium as "small". But the principles of design and maintenance can apply to the more modest sizes of aquaria too.
   
   If you are new to the hobby, it'll help you decide between freshwater and marine, and then whether you want live plants or live coral. It'll help you choose an aesthetically pleasing location for your aquarium and help you aquascape the interior.
   
   I found the plant section to be especially helpful, even though it was a brief overview. In its description of the major plant groups, it mentioned which ones can get by with less light, or without a CO2 system, or with little pruning. And it didn't put me to sleep like the plant sections of other aquarium books.
   
   The last section, entitled "Case Studies", is really cool. There they take some of the tanks pictured in previous sections and give you all the stats on aquarium size, exactly what filtration was used, lighting, livestock, etc. They also give tips on coordinating the aquarium with the surrounding interior design.
   
   The only negative things I can say about the book are about some misplaced and repeated captions. Also, I would have liked to have seen some aerial-view sketches of aquascaping floor plans, showing plant and rock placement.
   
   P.S. If you are not going to hire an aquarium installation and maintenance service, then you need to complete your fish education with one of the Complete Idiot's Guides by Mike Wickham.



4. This book contains many high quality pictures of various aquariums fixture designs. It covers all types of aquarium ranging from fresh water, marine, planted to coral tanks. The knowlege this book provided is broad but scattered and simply not comprehensive enough for advanced aquarist. It is equally confusing and incomplete for the beginner aquarist. It describes VERY LITTLE on everything ranging from the fixtures, filtration system, lighting, the livestocks on both marine and fresh water aquariums. To some extent this book is a disappointment and a waste of paper. For example, one clearly can not depend on the 4 pages information provided by this book on choosing marine fish. This book could have some values to interior designers or architects who wish to incorporate an aquarium in his/her design.



5. This is not a book for beginners who want to know how to set up a tank. Rather, this is a book for creating a tank that will fit in a magazine such a Home Beautiful. Amano's books give examples of stunning layouts. This book will give ideas of how to plan a stunning layout that blends with the color of the room's woodwork, drapery and lighting. And, it thoughtfully discusses planning where to put the filtration, drains and water source for ease of maintaining the tank. (Gotta keep that carpet clean - these rooms are show pieces, remember.)
   
   Examples are given of neutral color fish that provide background for more colorful fish to avoid a tank that is too 'busy'. Coordination of substrate color is discussed. Reference is made several times to 'the tank maintenance service'. This is, basically, a book on interior decorating that specializes in tanks.
   
   All in all, this is a book that rounds out a library and I have to recommend it to a library that has already covered the basics. However, you will probably not being applying the knowledge unless you either are dreaming or have bucks.

5 comments about Water Chemistry for the Marine Aquarium.

1. Very informative on beginning a new salt water tank. Information on what equiptment needed to provide the type of tank I wanted. Different habitat need different water and light conditions. Very helpful.



2. Good book for beginners maybe. Generally covers all important topics but on very entry level. I didn't find here anything what couldn't be found in public resources on the web.



3. A small book cramed with info. Tells the beginner everything they need to know.



4. book was very much into the chemistry...it did not help with the regular issues we have with water in marine aquariums....no mentioning of issues related to presence of chemicals in water....may be people with knowledge in chemistry can try....



5. This book goes through everything step by step, without getting getting too technical about the chemistry. Do you ever wonder why your shrimp needs iodine added? Do you know what the dentrification cycle is and why its important? Now you can learn it all. This book really DOES cover everything you need to know about water and what you need to do to keep it healthy for your fish and your inverts. Its under 100 pages, so you can read through it in a day or two, no problem. Really explains everything you need to know.
   
   Even for experts, this book is REALLY helpful because it's written so plainly and covers so much. You'll be amazed at what you've forgotten when you read through this.