Book Description

Debunking the myth that reef aquariums need to be wildly expensive and technologically complex, John Tullock offers a new, radically simple approach to producing beautiful, captive microcosms.

Using live rock and live sand as part of a natural filtration system, the home aquarist can now create vibrant reef tanks that are biologically stable and simple to maintain.

With Tullock’s suggestions, the reefkeeper can now mimic natural habitats such as a Florida Keys Lagoon, a Caribbean Turtle Grass Flat, an Indo-Pacific Deep Cave, or a Red Sea Patch Reef. With more than 200 color photographs and illustrations, Natural Reef Aquariums provides inspiration for both beginning and expert marine reef hobbyists. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Full of detailed information
I have several reef aquarium books and so far this is the best one. The systems for reef aquariums have changed over the past several years. The thing I like about this book is that it is really up-to-date and talks about the 3 different set-up techniques. There are lots of colorful pictures of everything from equipment, to fascinating corals and fish. You get the sense that the author is a real expert on the topic.

BAIT AND SWITCH
I bought this book with great anticipation after having read Tullock's "First Marine Aquarium" published by Barrons. This "Natural Reef Aquarium" was a huge disappointment, and I liken the experience to having a student write a 5 page paper for an "A" and then expanding the same topic to a 20 page paper for a "C". This book rambles and meanders with far less focus and precision than Tullock's "First Marine" book. Gone are the useful charts and lists of different animals needs and compatibilities. ALso, he never seems to make a clear distinction between his own version of keeping an aquarium and that of the Berlin method developed by others. Tullock's "First Marine" book was inspirational, and was written with such conviction to really convey the radical departure of his methods. This book is full of filler, and major themes are tied together with the weakest of threads. My advice, buy the "First Marine" book, you'll get all the basic information and a lot more passion for the hobby.

Pretty book but misrepresented
This book represents itself as a low-tech simplified reef-keeping guide. Instead the author suggests almost every gadget out there. Including calcium reactors, RO/DI, etc.

I guess is was wishful thinking on my part that there truly exists a simple way to keep reef aquariums.

It does have great pictures and is nice for inspirational purposes.

Excellent work
This book is a must have for anyone interested in starting a reef aquarium. It covers everything you need to know. One of the best books on the subject.

troy
This book is very well written and a bargain at the price. It gives very good descriptions and lets you know that there are more than one way to do a reef aquarium. It is a little much for someone just trying to get into the hobby but I would recomend it to anyone that is trying to get into the hobby as a second book and get one geared a little more for the beginner as the first book. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is the "bible" on the subject of Reef Aquarium keeping, covering the biology of coral reefs and relating it to the biological, chemical, and physical parameters considered when creating a reef aquarium. The book details how to successfully cultivate corals in captivity and also features the identification and care of numerous coral and giant clam species. Diseases and parasites, and methods for controlling algae are also featured. The book finishes with an exciting section of photographs demonstrating successful reef aquariums. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

The Best Reef Reference Book there is!
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 Vol. 1
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.

Helpful books
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.

The Questions Are Answered
This book should be an example by which all other marine and reef aquarium books follow. Current and relavant information from cover to cover. This is the stuff you need to know if you are serious about being successful in this hobby. Great book but a great group of people.

A Must
This book is a must if you are serious about doing it right. Full of excellent, hard to find information. It is heavy reading, but even the beginner can benefit from the tank set-up instructions that will help you do it right the first time. ... Read more

Book Description

Reef Fish3rd Edition,Reef Creature 2nd Edition and Reef Coral 2nd Edition Identification books packaged in a beautifully printed Shelf Case. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Does exactly what it says on the tin!
I'm sorry that Vincent in Singapore didn't find these books useful, but they don't pretend to be books for those wanting to keep fish in small tanks - they are terrific field identification guides (as per the titles), with excellent photos and details of colour variations, locations, etc. Beautifully presented, and very comprehensive. Brilliant!

NOT FOR MARINE AQUARIUM HOBBYIST
As a marine aquarium hobbyist I was disappointed with this set of books. It doesn't tell you much on the behaviour and characteristic of the fishes, invertebrates and corals. The most disappointed and surprised was the book on reef fish, such a thick book but only a few species were introduce.

Absolutely the best set available
If there is one set of reef identification books to own then this one is it. A set of three of the best books available, it contains Reef Fish Identification, Reef Creature Identification and Reef Coral Identification. Throughout the Florida, Caribbean and Bahamas areas there are no better books available. Each fish, creature, coral, grass or algae has it's own full color picture along with a line drawing that points out the defining characteristics of that particular species. With a plastic cover and the pages treated to resist water, it can be taken to the beach or onto the boat without much concern about the water damaging the book.

Each entry has complete information on the fish, creature or coral from size, depth, range and habitat to the level of concern that a diver should have for their safety around it. If you snorkel, dive or just have an interest in identification of the various things that you find on a reef then this set will give you everything you need to identify anything you find. Highly recommended.

The Reef Set
We have used the Reef Identification series for years and this new update is a great addition -- many more fish are identified. The writeups about each fish are very detailed and explain behaviours and various color shadings well. The photos are excellent, and we have always been impressed by the amount of work and care that have gone into the series. This is the first time we have had the Reef Coral book and are as pleased with it as with the quality of the other two books.

You must have this book!
If you need information on Carribean Reef Creatures/Fish/Coral, this is the only book you need.
As an underwater photographer, I am constantly using my set to identify fish and corals. There is no other set of books like this. Now, Paul, when are you doing a Pacific Set???? ... Read more

Book Description

A comprehensive field guide for aquarists, divers and naturalists, with detailed full color photographs of hundreds of species, encompassing the majority of coral genera one is likely to encounter on reefs around the world, This book defines corals and distinguishes them form similar hydrozoans, zoanthids, and corallimorpharia. The corals are described and compared to similar looking species, and their range and the correct pronunciation of the Latin name is given.

In addition, for aquarists who grow corals in reef aquariums, information is provided in quick reference charts concerning each coral's requirements for light, water movement, and food, hardiness in captivity, aggressiveness toward other corals, and proper positioning in the aquarium. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Excellent
An excellent reference. Information is not as detailed as some other recent publications, but the pictures are excellent for identification. Use it as it is.... a "quick" reference. A definate must buy.

Thanks
Fast delivery. Book is in great shape.. :)

A must have book !
This is one of the best illustrated books I've used. Each coral has a food charts with symbols that represent the various sources corals utilize for their nutrition, a chart indicating the range of the physical parameters required and a placement chart indicating proper postioning of the coral in an aquarium, assuming overhead lighting.

This works...
Sure, it would also have been possible to include all the thousands of corals known worldwide in this book, instead of restricting to those held in aquaria. But then you wouldn't succeeed in bringing the book with you to the aquarium retailer in order to identify corals in the dealer's tank before you buy. With this book that works...

A Welcome Addition to My Library
What a great start to the series! You can't ask for a more easy to use format. Very informative and staight to the point. And the pictures! This thing is a coffee table took and a reference guide! If you keep a reef aquarium you need to own this book. ... Read more

Book Description

This second volume in the series features the anemones and soft corals associated with reefs, detailing their biology and husbandry requirements, and featuring numerous species descriptions, with the benefit of wonderful color photographs. Also featured is new information regarding parasites in reef aquariums, and captive culture of anemones and soft corals. The book finishes with another section featuring more stunning images of reef aquariums around the world. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Informative and readable
This is a great book on anemones, zoanthids, mushroom polyps, and soft corals, with lots of practical help on care and troubleshooting. The text and layout are very clean and easy to follow.

Unlike Nilsen and Fossa, this is a book you can read through and enjoy, then read over and over again. It may not contain as much information as Nilsen and Fossa, but it is much more accessible.

Just What This Hobby Needs
They should have named this "The Reef Aquarium Bible, Book II!" Current information from an author who knows a thing or two about keeping these corals alive. Not to turn this into an affirmation workshop for Julian, but I really wish he had more time to write. This hobby needs more books like this.

Worth it's weight in corals
This book is great for what you're supposed to be reading it for.It tells the important facts about most non-scleractinian corals,which include requirements for general placement in the aquarium ,lighting needs,water flow,feeding requirements,if any at all,aggresiveness,and what the animal should look like.It is very informative on keeping ,and requirements of sea anemones.It all so dives into equipment and husbandry of a marine habitat. This book and the Vol#1 book are two great volumes to have, if you have,or are planning to start a tropical reef aquarium.

The Reef Tank Bible Part Two
With volume one and volume two, what more does a reef aquarist need? Answer: Volume Three !

Reef Bible Here
If you have any interest in keeping soft corals or mushrooms, this is the book you need. This coupled with Vol 1, is it for soft and stony coral care, propagation and tank setups. Only thing missing is talk on the fish and mobile inverts (aside from a few things) to go with this system. Great idea for Vol 3! ... Read more

Book Description

A concise guide to the care and culture of reef invertebrates. This book is for curious minds interested in discovering some of the exciting techniques of coral propagation. It is tailored for hobbyists looking to safely control the growth of coral in aquaria, professional aquarists producing invertebrates for sale and trade, and thoughtful resellers interested in inspiring customers and staff to explore the many rewards of keeping coral reef invertebrates. A comprehensive guide of 450 pages, Volume 1 topics include commercial mariculture in greenhouses (including fabrication, design and operation), concept aquarium dynamics, a large coral family overview with consideration of captive viability and, of course, coral propagation, securing, and growout techniques for private aquarists and commercial interests. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Too good
Anthony Calfo is, in my opinion the guru of coral propagation and mariculture. His very informative and fun to read book is filled with all you need to know about starting to cut and grow thriving corals. I have set up my Mariculture business using only Anthony's advice found in this book and I am having great success. If you follow Anthony's advice, you will save thousands of dollars in setup and many hours of tinkering around trying to figure out how to do certain things. If you are doing mariculture as a business, this book is too good for your competition to have. I want to keep it a secret but there are hundreds of fantastic ideas and advice that you cannot help sharing with your friends. My fellow Coral Farmers think I am a vault of knowledge and an expert in the field - I just hope they never meet Anthony, I only know what his excellent book has taught me. I cannot wait for part 2 (soon to be released) ...and the best part is that Anthony is available via e-mail for advice or clarification of any issues you may not understand. Buy it now!

A true masterpiece in coral husbandry and propagation!
The "Book of Coral Propagation" is now my favorite book in my 40-some reef/marine aquarium book collection. If you are looking for a first-rate book on coral propagation and husbandry that is in-depth, up-to-date, and full of ground-breaking information, then look no further. Don't assume this book is just about propagation for the commercial sector or hardcore reef aquarists. It provides a holistic view on the husbandry of corals too, that even beginners can appreciate. In order to propagate corals, you need to understand how they thrive and grow, and this book will be your ultimate guide. So even if you don't plan on propagating corals, this book will still provide more information on husbandry than any other book out there. The coral family overviews themselves are worth buying this book. This book is thick, and it's not full of filler. Unlike most books in the hobby (and industry for that matter), this book actually contains valuable knowledge - and lots of it - derived from years of bona fide research, practice, and experience! There are many coral books out in the marketplace, and a few coral husbandry books, but all fall short of providing practical and useful information that aquarists can really use. Most of these so called coral books are reiterations of biology books or make good coffee table books (pretty pictures). This book is radically different! It is so refreshing to read a book that is actually useful. Looking at a picture book full of pretty corals is not going to help you grow and care for corals in your aquarium. Not only is this book useful, it is very easy to read. It's amazing how a book with so much knowledge and detail can be so painless to read and comprehensive at the same time. I would highly recommend all reef aquarists add this book to their current book collection. No matter how many books you have, you will find this book most useful and full of innovativation, insight, and revolutionary knowledge based on real-life experiences of the author. And if you don't have any coral books yet, then look no further, save your money, and buy this book first!

How to run a propagation company in one book
The knowledge that Anthony has packed into this one volume is amazing. He covers everthing you need to know to get started in the propagation industry. He inspired me to take a more active role and begin to take my hobby more seriously. Even if you do not want to start a business, this book is a wealth of information.

Excellent
This is THE book for coral culturing. Excellent content and very easy to read. Discusses setup, various coral species, and culturing.

Recommended to anyone who is interested in keeping corals!

A 'must have' for the serious reefer
If you are interested in reproducing your corals, THIS is the book you should buy! Intended for commercial coral propagation, this book is also +excellent+ for the private, home based reefer as well.
It discusses not only coral propagation, but also coral needs, do and don'ts, also other important aspects like water quality and ways to optimize it with simple but very effective tips...in a nutshell: no matter if you are a newbie or advanced reefer, commercial or private, this book should be in your reef aquarium reference library! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

another great microcosum publication
an exalent read for beginers! covers many important aspects of reef keeping in understandable languege.

however, there are a couple problems. 1st, since its such a recent publication it has some confusing types and errors. they arnt terrible but i can see them confusing some beginers. 2nd, they have a couple places where they say somthing like "this is an important topic but its beyond this book to explain".

still, its a great starting place for beginier marine aquarists.

Best marine aquarium book ever
This book is great, it is not only a book packed with usful infomation for anyone beginer or advanced, it has a lot of info on what equiptement you need and tells you why you need it. It also is just a great book on hand. I would reccomend it to everyone

Great way to select animals for your aquarium
The best part of this book is the stocking guide section. It describes many, many common fishes & inverts that are found in the aquaria trade in great detail. Makes stocking a tank very easy.

They're very environmentally aware without being preachy about it. For instance, they will point out which fishes should be tank bred and why.

Beautiful photography!

Great Book for Starting a Reef
This is a beautiful book. There are lots of great pictures. The book is an excellent resource for those who are starting a reef tank. There are thorough and informative chapters on issues such as set-up, live rock, lighting, fitration, feeding, etc. The sections on selection & care of corals, other invertebrates, fishes, and algae are excellent. Issues of care, compatibility and conservation are addressed for all species.

I did notice a couple of incorrect pictures, but this is a very minor problem.

Overall, this is an excellent beginner/intermediate book by a pair of recognized and respected authorities in the field. Their superb 4-volume series is beyond the budget of most at a per-volume list price of around $90. Most of what the average new reefer needs is here in this book. It is an excellent value for the price. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

As good as it gets
This book is as good as it gets. Which does not say much. I took it on a recent dive trip to SE Asia and was able to determine generally what I was seeing. The photos are good. However, there are insufficient descriptions - nothing on habitat and nothing to differentiate juveniles from adults - to ID species. And there were lots of animals underwater that were not listed. But the other available texts were no better.

I searched for months of find a good fish ID book. I concluded there's just nothing out there. So while this is as good as it gets, that's not a lofty endorsement.

Highly recommended!
Very authoritative covering of the animals of the Indo Pacific area. The photos are stunning, and there are a significant number of species listed. This Coral Reef Guide covers: Fishes, crabs, shrimps, invertebrates, coral and other broad subjects. There are scientific names given for use by the marine biologists. For the amateur. Golden Guides would be more useful. Once they progress to this advanced guide, they will seek nothing after it. A very nice home reading book for entertainment or admiration. The species shown are incredible, and compell the reader to explore the ocean. Explore this book first of all.

relatively exhaustive guide
first of all: this is a gd book. i've been able to identify almost all critters with this book. but tt's as far as i can get.

Apart from photographic identification, there's little information provided abt the individual animals which would be very useful i.e. habitat, size range, colour range, symbiotism with another species etc. also there's a section which lists the animals as "misc" which well isn't entirely the fault of the authors. i'm assuming tt perhaps little info is available abt the relative species and hence they're unable to give it proper classification or the class is small so it's unnecessary to give them their own.

the pictures are all brilliantly taken which allows for easy identification except for some of the fusilers and gobies and other small critters tt are difficult to identify bcos of the angle fr which the pix are taken or that they are taken fr a wide angle i.e. an entire school of fish which can require quite a squint. i thought it wld be useful too if apart from the pix they could, like bird ident books, detail in writing the physical appearance of the fish. bcos fish can have rather different appearances in the various life stages. either that or there are variations to their colours etc. but this cld also be due to a lack of species information. which is why perhaps it wld be gd to buy a range of books so comparisens can me made and also for those who take pictures (and who are interested enough) to feedback the authors. the more info we have the better guide books we can make.

i thought it was nice to include a section on coast/sea birds. alot of time ppl fail to take notice of them. perhaps this section can be improved on to make ppl more aware of avain life ard the sea. marine mammals also needs more work. right now the porpoise ident is a page of grayscale illustrations. i know most of the times they're gray but... it's also not exhaustive which again, cld be supported by reader contributions.

still undecided by my review? just by the book then.

By and large a reliable companion
...BR>This book is intended to be used to identify marine organisms by comparing photographs with the live specimens seen or photographed while diving or snorkeling. Although a paperback it is quite a strong book and withstands extensive handling quite well without falling apart. It has helped me to identify most of the marine organisms I encountered in the waters around Bali. A zoologist by training I am not only interested in fishes, but also in all kinds of invertebrate organisms, such as soft and hard corals, nudibranchs, tunicates, echinoderms, worms, molluscs, etc. I therefore noted with particularly pleasure that these are very well represented. For instance, when for the first time you see what looks like white strings on corals or rocks you wonder what the heck that could be. The book informs you that these are spaghetti worms! Ever heard of them? In my experience photographs are more suitable than drawings for finding a resemblance between picture and live specimens. And whereas I realize that it is not easy to photograph fishes, especially not the shy species, I wished a few times the pictures to bear a closer resemblance to the real specimens. It would be to the book's advantage if improved photographs were included when a new edition is prepared. At present, however, there is no alternative to this book.

Indo-pac coral reef
I find this book to be very helpful when trying to locate a species of coral, shell, animal etc., It is perfect for traveling. If you need more information than the brief discriptions supplied then you will need to research in other publications. ... Read more

Book Description

Covering 68 families and thousands of species, Reef Fishes is an authoritative guide designed to be a lifelong reference for saltwater aquarists, divers, and amateur reef naturalists. This volume covers coral reef habitats and fish families, with detailed information on major groups. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Great Beginning--Where's Volume 2?
This is a wonderful book. It give s agreat intor to the general aspects of anatomy, physiology and ecology of reef fishes. It then goes on into detail on several families of fish. Among these are: Eels, Frogfishes, Seahorses, Squirrelfishes, Lionfishes, Anthias, and several others.

At least 2 more volumes are planned.

Volume 2 has been due "soon" for quite a while now. I hope "soon" isn't much longer--it will include many of the most interesting fishes: Damselfishes, Butterflyfishes, Angelfishes, Dottybacks, Jawfishes, Grammas, and several more.

Volume 3 (who knows when it will arrive) will include wrasses, blennies, gobies, surgeonfishes, rabbitfishes, pufferfishes and several others.

This series will definitely be the "definitive reference on all fishes a marine aquarist might ever encounter." The author, Scott W. Michael, is a renowned expert in this field. He has more than 25 years experience as an aquarist and diver. He has written several other books and contributes regularly to Aquarium Fish Magazine.

Highly recommended!!

Waiting with Bated Breath
This is one of the best fish books I've ever owned. The author succeeds admirably in his goal of providing a comprehensive reference to reef fishes. There are a couple of things prospective buyers should note:

1) There is more in-depth information about each species than I've seen in any other fish book---by this, I mean pages instead of a paragraph or two.

2) This is only volume 1 of an eventual 3 volume set that will provide a comprehensive reference to virtually all reef fishes. What this means is that all kinds of bizarre fishes are covered in detail----even those that most of us would never consider for our own aquarium and those that we will never see unless we take up scuba diving. Many (most?) of the fishes that the amateur aquarist might own will be covered in future volumes.

The text is well-written and fun to read. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on frogfishes, even though I can't imagine myself owning one. Additionally, the book is profusely illustrated with excellent color photographs. It's really astounding that one person could do all the research, compilation, and writing that went into this. Whatever Mr. Michael is making from this book, it's not enough.

Over-all, a really terrific book, and I'm waiting with bated breath for volumes 1 and 2. I hope the author can find time and energy enough to get them out within a few years.

Volume 2 is available
It should be noted that you will find it on Amazon under the name "Basslets, Dottybacks & Hawkfishes: plus seven more aqarium fish families with expert captive care advice for the marine aquarist", but it's obviously Reef Fishes Vol 2 as confirmed by the Microcosm website.
Now we are all waiting volume 3 !!

Reef Fishes Volume 1 by Scott W. Michael
Awesome book! So many wonderful pictures and more information than I hoped for!

Great book for the families of fish represented
After reading the glowing reviews and getting a quick perusal of the book at the local aquarium shop I asked for this book as a Christmas present. In many ways this first volume is all I expected, a thorough review of many of the species of fish in the covered families with plenty of nice photos. The book also describes care and feeding.

The downside, and something I didn't pick up while thumbing through the book in the aquarium store, is that this is the first book of a 4 part series. Which means the book only covers approximately a third of the common reef fish families. And worse yet, although the author states that the primary audience the book is directed toward is aquarists, it appears that the majority of fish families presented in the first volume are more of the less commom species of fish kept by reef aquarists. The first volume contains fish like eels, catfishes, lizardfish, toadfish, frogfish, squirrelfish, sea moths, pipefish, seahorses, scorpionfish, etc., not species you'll find in the majority of reef tanks. The only families included that I would possibly keep in my tank are the dwarf seabasses, hamlets, and anthias.

We'll have to wait for volume II to get the dottybacks,grammas, hawkfish, cardinalfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, and damselfish (among others). And volume III to get the wrasses, blennies, gobies, and surgeonfishes (among others). Volume IV is supposedly an index of the first three volumes.

Dividing the reef fish into 3 volumes is not a bad idea, although it would have been nice to have the more common species in the FIRST volume. Particularly when volume I was published in 1998, and we're still waiting for volume II. Assuming Volume II was published in 2003 (a hopefull guess) then I can look forward to reading about Tangs in volume III somewhere around 2007. In retrospect I may have found a book that provided more info. on commonly kept species.

Having said all that, for what Volume I represents, it is presented very well and in thorough easily digested detail. Let's hope Mr. Michael gets really ambitious and pumps out volume II and III next year. ... Read more

Book Description

The book provides a fascinating look at the natural history and evolution of coral reefs that forms the foundation for understanding reef ecology and its practical application in closed system aquaria. Beginners and experienced hobbyists willappreciate the wealth of information and beautiful illustrations. Special emphasis on reef construction, zoogeography, marine algae, and microbiologyaffords and invaluable tool for designing an ecologically responsible system. 640 high-qualitycolor p hotographs, numerous maps, tables, drawings, and diagrams. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Better than D&S vol 1&2 but different...
I have read both of these book series (vol 1 and 2), and both are "the benchmark" books. You can't get bad data from either, but I think the D&S books (especially volume 2) are are a little disorganized, a little more "wanna be" marine biology journal articles (very stiff prose for a hobby book), and just a little less useful content. IMHO. :-) (please no flame wars).

Then again; I am an engineer and appreciate straight facts, well organized and plainly presented. The "Modern Coral Reef Aquarium" books are going to be very tough to top in this regard. I can look in the index and find just what I want in a momet, and the prose is a "good read" if you want to read them front to back (which I did).

Buy these books first and then the D&S series.

Good resource but hard to follow
If you want a good read that takes you from how to set up a reef tank to what you can put in it, I'd recommend a different series: Delbeek and Sprung's "The Reef Aquarium" first.

A brief flip through the pages of this 3 volume series by Fossa and Nilsen wows you with its vast amount of information. But try to sit down and read it through or find anything on a specific topic and you can easily get lost.

On the plus side: lots of material on things you don't find elsewhere from what sort of things you might find on your live rock, particularly the often over looked microfauna, to a huge amount on crustaceans, with of course lots on hard and soft corals. The advice is sound and practical.

On the minus side: What is it with European aquarium books? Like most, the layout is cluttered and busy, busy, busy. It is often hard to follow the linear thread of topics, especially on the species factsheets which are tossed into the middle of multi-column text. That and other organizational issues made it hard for me to find information on specific topics. You are lost without the index and even then, the book is so comphrensive that you'll need to wade through 6 or 8 index references on most topics to find the information you want. Comprehensive, is all in all, a good thing but I find this book frustrating.

I'm a voracious reader and when it comes to reef aquarium books, I'll gladly read them 4 or 5 times to extract every last bit of information out of them. But this series left me disappointed. I only give it 4 stars because the information is vast and the authors are clearly knowledgable. I was tempted to give it less.

Magnífico
This book is a great guide to those who approach the coral reef aquarium and are specially interested in knowing why things happen such a way. Try to read it and you'll get delighted for sure.
Finally, I should mention it's full of magnificient photos, both from aquariums and nature.

It`s fantastic!
This book is what I have always been looking for. A great reference on cnidarians that is not to complicated. The price is very high,but indeed,it is worth the money as it deals with 500+ species of corals and other cnidarians,some of which I have seen in no other of my fantastic fish/invertebrate books. It includes descriptions of more than 40 species of horn corals as well as a lot of sea anemones,which are very beautifull. This book is actually an updated,english edition of the norwegian 1992 book "Korallrevsakvariet Band 4". The authors are very experienced and they truly show that with all advices they give about keeping a saltwater aquarium in this book. It is definitly magnificent. Unfortunatley,I do not keep living cnidarians my self. I am just studying about them as wild animals. But the book was worth it and it made me discover a series of books that may be the best survey ever made on marine life,although more species would have been a good idea (1000 or more would be able to cover a book of this dimensions)I will soon buy the other ones. I`ll highly recommend it!

Australian reader
This is a very good book covering a comprehensive range of genera and includes a section on algae which was my main reason for buying . Like every other text it can not cover everything. One of the things I would have appreciated was specific requirements by family / species and more information regarding phosphate and calcium levels . The authors claim extraordinary growth rates for corals and corraline algae which do not match my experience nor those of Aquarium shops in Brisbane Australia. Worth having as a reference . ... Read more

Book Description

530 classic photographs of living specimens and the most current scientific classifications help identify virtually every species of stony coral, gorgonian, fire coral and black coral in the tropical western Atlantic. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Extremely essential!
A field guide to coral, especially by Paul Humann, is essential to your collection of ocean field guides. Hundreds of coral species are listed, including: sea fans, hard corals, soft corals, and mushroom corals. The book also explains the many diseases that possibly afflict many species. The coral entries have excellent, detailed explanations beside them, concerning species depth, range, and abundance. The photograph transfers are above average, showing enough of the coral for identification purposes. The photographs are of course very beautiful, containing various, colorful hues of these animals. Buy the waterproof, annotated version of Reef Coral ID to bring along in the ocean on a scuba diving trip. The book has been updated twice since it was published, with the original print still floating around here on Amazon.com. The second edition is far superior, containing many more listings and more beautiful photos. Completely essential field guide for a private collection.

The Best Guide Available
This Reef Coral Identification book is THE definitive guide. In brief there is not a better guide out there. It thoroughly covers each type of coral and gives identification information as well as full color photographs. In addition to all the corals it covers other plant life likely to be encountered while snorkeling or diving. These include grasses, weeds, algae and coral diseases. With a plastic cover and the pages treated to resist water it can be taken to the beach or onto the boat without much concern about the water damaging the book. For each item the book also discusses any danger to divers that the particular coral may represent (such as fire coral).

This book can also be purchased as part of a three part set that also includes the Reef Fish Identification and Reef Creature Identification texts, each of which is equally as excellent as the Reef Coral Identification book.

The Coral Reef Bible
Don't take my word for it, go to a handful of dive shops and this author's name will come up more than once. An excellent book, I haven't come across anything I like better. The others in this family are just as good.

WIthout a doubt, the BEST identification book out there.
This is a fantastic book, and along with the other two books by this author you should be able to ID any marine creature you encounter!

The book lists virtually all types of corals including Algae, black corals, brain, lace, cactus, cup, boulder, fire, fleshy, etc.

Each entry has an excellent picture, the name, family, size, depth, and other information.

The pictures alone are worth the cost of the book!

This is definetely the book you want to have with you when you dive or snorkel. Buy it today, you won't be disappointed!

Almost as good as the previous!
This is the 3rd volume in the "Reef Set",Paul Humman`s incredible books on Caribbean marine life. Actually,this was the first volume I bought of them,so I now learned to know how these books were. I later received Reef Fish ID for Christmas. But this one is very beautifull too. It includes almost every coral that is likely to be encountered while diving in the Caribbean. The photos are also quite good for beeing an identification book. Commonly,really striking views of animals only come in art books like "Coral Seas" or "The Maldives" but these pictures are of almost the same quality. The Indo-Pacific corals are often very colourfull,but the Caribbean are more famous for their artistic shapes and forms (some of them looks like trees in the winter). It is not badder than the previous volumes,because this one takes up other animals. All three books are like one big book,because all of them covers different kinds of animals. So my rate of the entire reef set,including this one,is 10 out of 10 or 5 out of 5!If you do own the other volumes,do buy this one. No diver`s,fishwatcher`s or ichtyologist`s library is complete without these books. A must-have! ... Read more

Book Description

A detailed overview of what is presently know about the behavior and ecology of reef fishes inhabiting the waters of Florida, Caribbean and Bahamas. The enjoyable fact-filled text is lavishly illustrated with 475 marine life photos, many capturing spectacular fish behaviors never before documented. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Scuba Instructor reviews
My Name is Steve Fox, I am a scuba instructor in Utila, Bay Islands,Honduras I would like to say that in my dive shop and resort we use the whole Paul Humann set of books, they are fantastic, after every dive we sit with customers and go though all the fish,creatures and coral we have seen, they are the divers bible.

Steve
www.DeepBlueUtila.com

This is a real "must-read!"
I'm a scuba instructor at a resort in the Caribbean, and this is the book I rely on most heavily (yes, even more than Snyderman's Marine Life & Humann's Reef Fish ID!) in explaining what's going on. It's also the book I recommend to everybody who comes to the Lodge, and the one they enjoy the most. So, whether you're a snorkeler or a marine biologist, you'll gain a lot from having this one in your collection!

Knowing What Your're Looking At Underwater
RFB ablely illustrates and explains the fish actions commonly observed by divers and snorkelers. This volume will increase the novice's understanding and enjoyment of the acquatic environment. The pictures are excellent and the author nicely translates scientific jargon to readability. The binding is sturdy but flexible so it is easy to pack into your dive bag. However, I expect that most dive destinations will have a well thumbed copy on hand soon. My only criticism-- Ned doesn't deal with my favorite box fish. This is a great book. I expect to carry it with me on every dive trip.

Excellent Book
This is a wonderful synopsis of behaviors that I didn't know existed. It is well written with great pictures showing the enormous amount of time underwater that it must have taken to compile them. It has made me look at the reef in a whole new way. ... Read more

Book Description

With more than 500 species described and more than 400 illustrations, this guide provides quick and easy visual identification of fishes, mollusks, sponges, shrimps, lobsters, crabs, and much more of the fauna found on the coral reefs of the Caribbean and Florida. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

lacking color photos
I like most peterson books, however this one is just as knowledgable, but I bought the book hopeing to see color plates of corals, which it did not have. It had mostly color plates of starfish, sponges, sea buscuits, other animal life. I was disappointed in that, but as most of their books have, a nice description on how to identify it. It does seperate out the different types of corals, such as brain coral, then different subspecies (depressed, common, sharp hilled) but NO good pictures. It tells depth circumferance and valley, color, nice descriptions. It does have some black & white photos of coral, but it really does not help much.

It's a hard guide to write
I would feel confident recommending any of Peterson's field guides including "Coral Reefs." Many field guides simply discuss a single group of animals or plants. However Kaplan has succeeded in producing a pocket book explaining the most diverse habitats on earth. He writes from a broad knowledge base covering many topics important to coral reef watchers or biologists. Frequently he injects wit and humor into what might have been a dry text. He manages to hit on most groups of animals and uses many types of illustrations to allow the reader to identify and sort out the great number and types of animals that they will see on any coral reef within the area discussed.

I am new to this book but have used quite a few field guides in my day. Now I can't wait to visit the reefs again, armed with my new education. ... Read more

Book Description

The only guide devoted exclusively to low-latitude cruising, Tropical Cruising Handbook arms cruising sailors with the knowledge and skills they need to master the challenges of sailing the tropics. From navigating uncharted reefs to navigating Pacific cultures, from the effects of the tropical environment on boats and gear to the prevention and treatment of tropical illnesses and health hazards, the Handbook covers all the bases. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Best Practical Guide In One Book
There are lots of books that do their best to guide you toward successful sailing but they never tell the whole picture. They all leave something out so you have to buy several books to get all that you need. This is the best and most complete single book on what it takes to do practical sailing, specializing in the tropics. Everything to think about... food and it's preservation,repairs to the boat, weather(cyclones) and forcasting, tropical diseases and how to stay healthy, and my favorite- pirates..how to stay away from them and be safe...of course much more. It's highly readable,too. If there was a fault I guess would have to say I wish there was more story telling of the author's experiences in his 25 year cruising time.But this book can't be beat for practical teaching and price. So I guess I read stories another time.

Tropical Cruising Handbook
I have been a "wannabe" tropical cruiser for several years. I have read several 'cruising guides' and many magazine articles, but when I do go this is the one that will be on board. It is all there, well presented and in language we all understand. A gold-mine of solid, practical information, excellent value.

A practical guide to forfilling your Dreams
I am not a person who is easily impressed, but having recently received and read "Tropical Cruising Handbook" by Mark Smaalders and Kim des Rochers I felt the need to write and congratulate the authors on producing a truly excellent book. The book is a superb and comprehensive guide to all that you need to know to make your tropical cruise a rewarding and safe experience. In particular, I was very impressed with the authors' sensitivity to the cultures and people of the tropics.

This book has reinforced my desire to sail the tropics.

I can't wait to cast off and set sail. ... Read more

Book Description

This new field guide will describe approximately l,000 species of invertebrates and tunicates that are found in the Central and Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.The narrative for each species will include a description of the animal and discuss its natural history and distribution.The photographs for this field guide have been contributed by 36 of the world's best underwater photographers. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Simply the best invertebrate book
I only have positive thoughts about this great reference. It is simply the best book ever written on the invertebrates of the Indian Ocean and especially the Indonesian area. It is like an oversized version of Debelius` field guides,but this one truly rocks!It does not only include 1105 interesting invertebrate species,but also some great information about them. Some species are such new to science that they`ve not even been described. For example,there are 10 undescribed little octopi. If any animal are more strikingly colourfull than reef fishes,these are the ones. I love all animals but I especially like the chapters about flatworms,crustaceans,and molluscs,of which many species are new to me. I already have a great knowledge of animals for beeing such young,and this book gives me much more. When I take a trip to Thailand for the next winter,I`ll bring this book and see how many invertebrates I`ll recognize from it. Over all,this is a great book and would recommend it to any serious scientist,aquarium hobbyist,invertebrate lover,or the one that just likes strong colours. The price is high,but believe me,it`s definitly worth it!

Fantastic Assortment of Pictures.
This soft-cover book provides some of the most vivid color pictures of marine invertebrates that I have seen to date. However, do not expect involved explanations about each species listed. Scientific names are given for each species, but common names are not always included. Very little information given concerning how each species relates in the aquarium environment. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Marine Invertebrates and Plants
This book is worth while as it is loaded with information. Though it maybe a older book, the information makes it a great resource. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Accurate, fun pictures.
This is a book which is accurate in its drawings, with the official names for many, if not all, the different species. I am an adult, a frustrated artist with no talent whatsoever for drawing. I have really enjoyed coloring these pictures with colored pencils. There is a lot of small detail work in some of the pictures, which I think would be difficult with crayons, but of course, all the detail doesn't need to be observed. I have loved this book and have colored 2/3 of the pictures. It is my favorite of the half dozen coloring books I bought. There are completed colored pictures of about a quarter of the drawings, which I appreciate very much, as it gives inspiration to those of us who would like to experiment with shading, etc. ... Read more

Book Description

This recent release in Jerry Pallotta's best-selling alphabet book series takes you underwater to explore the coral reef. From Angelfish to Zebra Pipefish, an alphabet of amazing tropical creatures leads us through this important ecological system.

Vivid, color illustrations enhance a fact-filled, entertaining text which teaches the young and not-so-young reader about the fascinating life on the coral reef. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Outstanding alphabet book!
I bought this book because my class is studying oceans. I thought the book might be dull but I needed something and didn't find much else. I had already covered whates, dolphins and sharks. So anyway I read it before bringing the book to school and found it entertaining and amusing. The book is not afraid to be funny. It really lightened up the subject and I can't wait to read it to my students. Thanks Jerry!

A must-have if you regularly go to any aquarium.
We had to buy a second copy (a hardcover) because our sons loved the first, paperback, version to death. Taught my kids not only the alphabet but the names of all the fish. I is for Indigo Hamlet was one of my son's first sentences! My four-year-old can i.d. all these fish at the San Diego aquarium (and wants us to find the others at another aquarium). Never boring for adults, unlike some alphabet books. ... Read more