looking to borrow reef related books

[Gary Majchrzak]

I think that I read 'Dynamic Aquaria' by Dr. Walter Adey.
Is the Spotte book worth owning? Twin posted a link to a used copy for $50. I certainly can't afford the price of it new!

 

[Gravesj1s]

I think its worth 50 easy.300 No.

I use to read alot and have one book that focused entirely (450+ pgs) on albalones ,snails ,molluscs,stars, seaslugs, and about covers every type you can think of.
So to me at that time in my life the book was worth it.Just had a quest to learn and really enjoyed what someone else might not find appealing.

Fwiw-the book is by Svein Fossa and alf jacob Nilsen and yours to borrow if you like anytime.

 

[GMaquarium]

I don't know who's out there but I surely can't afford to purchase all of the books that I'd like to read and I promise to treat your books with the utmost respect. Any and all reef related reading considered.
I'm especially looking for Captive Seawater Fishes, Steven Spotte, 1992
John Wiley and Sons Publishers
ISBN 0-471-54554-6

This is the "bible" and probably more suitable for professionals and advanced hobbyists. Definitely not for beginners.

This type of material is not available in our public libraries.

I agree its a great book. A friend of mine has this one. I skim through it when I visit him. Was ready to buy it a few times to have my own copy but since I am not a student and not forced to buy overpriced textbooks its hard to drop that kind of cash on a book. Perhaps we are too used to free information online, do people still read books?

I have been collecting fish books since childhood and would be happy to share those books that I do have.

 

[Gravesj1s]

Nope, I just use google nowadays.

 

[St.james of reefdom]

gary ,
that 46.99 dollar captive seawater ships from India..

 

[Twinpanther]

gary ,
that 46.99 dollar captive seawater ships from India..

Yup, might not be comfortable ordering from them myself but you can get one from IN for about $60 or from a store with good ratings in TX for just over $80.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I think its worth 50 easy.300 No.

I use to read alot and have one book that focused entirely (450+ pgs) on albalones ,snails ,molluscs,stars, seaslugs, and about covers every type you can think of.
So to me at that time in my life the book was worth it.Just had a quest to learn and really enjoyed what someone else might not find appealing.

Fwiw-the book is by Svein Fossa and alf jacob Nilsen and yours to borrow if you like anytime.

thanks. I own Fossa/Nilsen volumes 3 & 4. I haven't read the others.

I haven't researched ordering anything from India.
I know that shipping goods to India is a major PITA because of all of their governmental regulations.

 

[toddmh]

For book collection on the subject are you after Gary?? I haven't bought any books on reef-keeping because most of them are far out of date with the technology of todays reefkeeping..

Am I wrong to think this,and can you recommend books with info that useful to today's aquarist?? I get all of my info from a few select web sites..

here being one of them lol

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

websites such as RC are very informative and usually adequate for the vast majority of people but (personally) I can't ever see myself relying on one source alone for information on subject matter. There are published works that touch upon subjects that I've not seen addressed on websites.

Sprung/Delbeek #3 is a good book for novice to intermediate reef aquarists.
Sprung/Delbeek #1 & #2 are still good, too.

It's mostly equipment (technology) that's changed. IMO/IME many of the basic reef husbandry requirements are clearly spelled out in even the lamest of publications.

 

[toddmh]

very cool..I will look into getting those books..

 

[reefboarder]

Gary, I have an Invertebrates Handbook it is relatively extensive, give origins, scientific names, care requirements, and how successful each specimen does in captivity. Not sure the author but the book is titled Marine Invertebrates handbook. I can post the Author later when I get home from work.

 

[Gravesj1s]

I really tried to reword this as best I can but its just coming out the same.
I would add that Delbeek & sprung contributed mightly to trends.I held alot of value to what they wrote about ,actually still do.
Charles Delbeek was the first to bring cited studys, references from scientific literature that applyed to the reefkeeping community.You see it all the time now in debated threads and most articles will have reference material at the bottom.(I like to look those up to see how there conclusion was drawn, sometimes.(just curiosity)

As much as I hate to say it I think Nilsen & Fossa vol1 is probably a better purchase than D&S vol. 1.

Another book" Breeding the orchid dottyback" by Martin Moe is very much respected and talked highly of by other known authors.I dont own it or ever read it but if I were to come across it I would definately grab it.

I hope I dont offend anyone by saying this but the Joyce wilkerson book ,I remember right before it was written she conducted a poll on compuserves Fishnet and the book was based from the poll.Just thought you may want to consider that before purchase.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I read Moe's Orchid Dottyback book and it's a good one. I no longer have it but I have other works by Moe. All of Moe's works are excellent IMO.
I also have the Wilkerson book and I don't think the advanced aquarist would appreciate it as much as novice to intermediate ones.

reefboarder- if your Invert Handbook was written by Shimek I have that one.

Obviously a $300 treatise such as the Spotte book has got to be in a league above these books, right graves?

 

[Gravesj1s]

Yeah it is .You can see from the link another member posted.But I dont want anyone to think its a must have or something.

IMO, for chemistry Spottes book for biology Adeys book are about as indepth as you'll find.My favorite book is still Adeys.Spottes captive seawater fishes I purchased prior to marriage ,kids, home of my own and everything that goes along with those things would make it impossible for me to justify dropping 300 dollars on a fish book today.So I hear you guys and agree on that note.

I wont have mine back until the state fair starts up or I'd loan it to you Gary.