Best starter books

[alkamar]

I am planning on buying a couple of saltwater books and would like to know what my two best choices would be if I am going to start out Fish Only Live Rock. I am good at keeping freshwater parameters in check and would love to get a large salt setup. If I am good, then I may later decide to go with a reef. I have seen good reviews for the following 2 books, but I do want the ones that would benefit me most and have up to date technology.

"A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Fishes: 500+ Essential-To-Know Aquarium Species" by Scott W. Michael

"The New Marine Aquarium: Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide" by Michael S. Paletta

Do you know of 2 better choices to get me up to speed on the latest and best practices in saltwater? I currently have the Baensch Aquarium Atlas for freshwater and know that a salt series is also available. I appreciate your input.

 

[smedley93]

I'm a newbie to salt water also. Currently reading 2 books:

"Animal Planets Salt Water Aquariums" by David E. Boruchowitz

and

"Saltwater Aquariums for Dummies 2nd Edition" by Gregory Skomal, PhD

Both are good reads. The first is a quick read with simple step by step tips to getting your first saltwater tank up and running and the second I'm using more as a reference.

I'm currently filling my 75g with RO/DI water. I plan on getting my live rock in the next few days. I'd be interested to here how your progress goes.

 

[jbaty]

There is another good book that I got when I first started... it's called Reef Secrets... Can't remember who it's by.

It's definately worth the read.

 

[mkolenda]

I have found the Conscientious Marine Aquarist to be rite on the mark. Does a great all around job with both tank and live stock.

 

[albertan22]

There's actually a really good article in this month's Reef Keeping Magazine on the issue.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-01/tips/index.php

 

[RyanMcLaughlin]

The New Marine Aquarium is a great book. I read it and it taught me so much. It isnt very in depth about anything though so you should also look into getting into another book that goes more in depth. It is a great book though.

 

[el Deutche]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11634800#post11634800 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mkolenda
I have found the Conscientious Marine Aquarist to be rite on the mark. Does a great all around job with both tank and live stock.

This is a good book.

 

[sundancer]

Get "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Robert Fenner. He's kinda cranky but he has the proper approach to aquarium keeping. I have read this book cover to cover a dozen times and still find something new between the pages.

 

[erichatesmice]

Ditto on "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Robert M Fenner. Best purchase made for a newbie like me.

 

[demonsp]

This is a great newbie read.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem.aspx?idproduct=BKNMA

 

[alkamar]

Thanks for the input

Thanks for the input

It always help to get input on purchasing books, as they quickly add up if you do trial and error. Some aquarists books costs as much as college text books. Those were great times. You buy the used college book for $110 and you make $20 bucks on trade-in. I bet they sold it to the next person for 110 again. Now that's profit. Sorry for the rant.:rollface:

 

[reefworm]

New Marine Aquarium - if it's the Tullock volume, is good. If you anticipate corals later, Borneman's Aquarium Corals is a must. So is Shimek's Coral Reef Aquarium, though its a bit brief.

 

[K' Family Reef]

Re: Thanks for the input

Re: Thanks for the input

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11641536#post11641536 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by alkamar
It always help to get input on purchasing books, as they quickly add up if you do trial and error. Some aquarists books costs as much as college text books. Those were great times. You buy the used college book for $110 and you make $20 bucks on trade-in. I bet they sold it to the next person for 110 again. Now that's profit. Sorry for the rant.:rollface:

good point!
glad to see they are still people ripping people off today trading ones books in at end of semester - wasnt just when i was in school!
:lol:

point here is also why buy books when there is so much information available online for freeeeee !

what more does one need to learn???

started out buying books when started reefing
wasnt until i started perusing online resources that finally got all my questions answered - and then some!

 

[tcollins]

I bought the three volumes of The Reef Aquarium by Delbeck and Sprung, excellent books. They go into more detail of the various options for running reef's and the reasons behind them. You won't be disappointed.

 

[JMaxwell]

Vol. III of Delbeek & Sprung's The Reef Aquarium series is by far the best book I have. My other books are Fenner, Calfo, and Borneman. The Reef Aquarium Vol III is expensive like a text book, but packed with into and far better written then most books in this hobby

 

[cwilson]

pretty much anything by Microcosim (spelling might be a little off) is a good choice. at the bottom of the book's spine it will say microcosim and have a picture of a tree. they published

reef secrets- own it and love it
pocket guide for fish- own it and love it. your never to experienced to have this
pocket guide for inverts- same for this one
aquarium corals- own it and although its good, its a littel in-depth to just 'pick up to learn a few things'
conciensious marine aquarist- own it and love it

the best all-around guides i would say are reef secrets and conciensious mar. aq. get either one of those and you cant go wrong