Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a very good book on reef aquarium keeping, I just wish that I would have known before hand that volume one is clams and stony corals, and that volume two is soft coral. This fact alone would have been helpful in determining which volume I needed first.

Delbeek and Sprung's knowledge and experience is evident in this up to date guide to mini reef keeping. The basics of reef keeping are explained, as well as coral biology and aquarium nutrient regulation. They describe various methods of filtration and lighting and their benefits/drawbacks. They explain how to construct and attach live rock and coral aquascapes in the aquarium. The text is also beautifully produced with many color photographs. Volume 1 focuses on stony corals and clams. There are many pictures of the different species, and they describe each species natural environment and needs. The book also covers coral disease, how to collect and transport corals, and several pictures of outstanding reef tanks are shown to give you something to shoot for. This book is the best I have seen for reef aquariums, and I have seen just about all of them. Volume 2, still in the works, will cover soft corals and gorgonians, from what I hear

As a reef aquarist I am always looking for good resources on how to be successful in this rewarding and very challenging hobby. This book covers all of the methods of reef keeping and allows the reader to decide which method is best for them. It also contains extensive chapters on the care and propogation of stony corals as well as giant clams. This is the best single resource a reef aquarist can add to their aquatic library. The authors have a tremendous amount of experience as reef keepers and both contribute regularly to such magazines as Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Magazine, and Aquarium Fish Magazine. It's an expensive book, but it's well worth the price. Reviewed by Brian Fox

The Reef Aquarium has information for all degrees of reef keepers. Being a first timer in the field,I found this book to be as vital as the tank itself. This book has all the information that you will need for a great tank. It goes into depth on information with regards to aquascaping, lighting, and water parameters. It also deals with the diseases and pests of the reef tank. When setting up a tank listen to one person or book. I recommend this book to be that one book.

I work at an aquarium store specializing in corals, inverts, and saltwater fish and this book is our bible. If there is a question that know one knows the answer to the book always has it.

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.

I keep a 30 gallon reef aquarium in my apartment and I am blessed with having a considerable amount of success for my first attempt at the hobby. I have purchased a couple of clams in the past, both of which turned out to be failures. Through word of mouth this book was recommended to me for the animals that I currently keep and the animals I would like to keep (SPS corals and clams). This book is full of information ranging from algea control to water quality to even identifying different species of SPS corals and clams. My only dissappointment was that I was hoping for a very detailed list of compatible organisms. I understand that certain corals tend to send out stinging tenticles that can harm recessive corals. Although this phenomenon is mentioned in the book it fails to give the specific list that I was hoping for. But don't let this negativity dissuade you from this purchase. There is so much other information in it I feel that it is critical for everyone who is new to the hobby to regard this book as their bible. Even the experienced may have something to learn from this literature.

In some reviews the two volumes of "The Reef Aquarium" have been named "the bible of reef aquarists". This makes you expect a lot, but my expectations have not been disappointed in any way. Describing the natural habit at in the coral reef, explaining the established reef aquarium systems or introducing the suitable aquarium inhabitants - in these two books I found it all. Even here in Germany those two books are known as a German translation, and they're successful.

Very well written. I was able to find and identify several problem areas in my reef. After twenty plus years of raising tropical fish, it is a relief to find a book that is not just a superficial "chat" about reef aquariums.

I manage a reputable aqarium shop, and we've referred to this book so often that the cover became damaged (a good thing). Also, we've highly recommended this title to our customers (beginner's included) due to it's easy to comprehend nature. An all-around gem in the reef-keeping world.