5 comments about Tropical Freshwater Aquarium Fish from A to Z (Compass Guides).

1. This book is very descriptive on the many kinds of aquarium fish. It is greatly illustrated and a book I would recommend for anyone who is ready to make an aquarium their hobby.



2. Exactly what I was looking for. A book with lots of photos of fish and brief descriptions and basic info on each. Easy to use, colorful, nice protective cover. High quality.



3. This book has may types of fish profiles, including many popular aquarium fish, and great pictures. It has the nifty plastic jacket, which anyone with a fish tank will appreciate. It is a small enough book to bring with you to the fish store, and informative enough to make you glad you brought it.



4. An OK book that is very brief in its details of fish species and occasionally slightly inaccurate with regards compatibilities. Very nice pictures that get it an additional star from me just because they make species identification a lot easier than some of other books. It has a nice plastic cover for those times when you're reading and dripping at the same time and is handily pocket sized for taking to the shops with you.



5. Not a lot of detailed info, but it's a great visual reference guide. I love it and it's cheap!

2 comments about The Essential Book of Koi: A Complete Guide to Keeping and Care.

1. A very good book a koi keeper must have. It give all the info you need to know about koi keeping.



2. EXTREMELEY HELPFUL BOOK. I RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO HAS A POND OR IS THINKING OF INSTALLING A POND. IT WOULD OF HELPED ME BY READING THIS BOOK PRIOR TO THE BUILDING OF MY POND.THIS IS A GOOD INVESTMENT OF YOUR TIME.

5 comments about The Reef Aquarium: A Comprehensive Guide to the Identification and Care of Tropical Marine Invertebrates (Vol 2).

1. 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.



2. My husband took a dive into the Saltwater Aquarium world. ALL of Sprung's books are a must have. They have a lot of info and definitely is a great resource. Well worth the price. It has been referenced many times throughout the saltwater aquarium evolution.



3. This book goes indepth about the anatomy and physiology of mushrooms, soft corals and anemones. Not a great reference guide for choosing specimens for your It tends to generalize by family and/or genus vs species. If you are new to saltwater and are looking for a reference to choose items for your tank this would not be my first choice.



4. Just like the vol. 1, that is a must-have book. Please note that the vol. 3 should be released late Nov. 2005.
   
   Emmanuel, Los Angeles CA



5. This volume of the series covers the soft corals and sea anemones; very important topics indeed for reef aquarium. The two books together are still not complete as  there are many organisms found in a reef aquaria still not covered. In this series. A fine glossary accompanies this book. Much of what I had to gleen by trial and error and by reading arcane publications over the years is covered in this book. Approachable to the beginner yet  a lot of substance for the expert.

5 comments about Nature Aquarium World: Book 3 (Nature Aquarium World).

1. I have been an advanced aquarist since 1994 and have read (and own) most of the plant books on the market. This book, as well as his others, are not meant for beginners (or even intermediate users) in search of a solid how-to manual. Better sources for that would be The Dynamic Aquarium: Building Living Ecosystems (by Adey and Loveland) or Peter Hiscock's 2 books, Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants and Aquarium Designs Inspired by Nature or The Ecology of the Planted Aquarium by Diana Walstad.
   
   But, if you are a beginner looking for inspiration or scope of what is possible, this is a good beginner book. I suspect that majority of aquarists who actually get a lot of practical use from these books are those who can readily take the data from each photo and put it to good use. Amano's books, if used as such, assume the aquarist has an advanced understanding of lighting, water chemistry, nutrient balances, biological filtration, fish behavior, etc. For advanced aquarists, these books are invaluable in that they supply tested permutations that can be immediately applied. This saves the hobbyist much experimentation when it comes to combinations of plant placement, relative to CO2 levels and lighting and nutrient regimes.
   
   In my opinion, this book is not required for beginners, although they can certainly learn from and enjoy it. But, it is required for any advanced plant-loving aquarist. I would highly recommend it for anyone who loves aquariums or appreciates the natural world.



2. This really is a fantastic book. Try to understand the Japanese culture and you'll understand the way mr. Takashi Amano disigns his aquariums.
   The use of simplicity is amazing but not easy to realize. For every aquarist is the whole serie 1,2,3 a must. Fantastic. Good written and very nice taken photos as well.



3. the first two books were great with my personal fave being Nature Aquarium World 1 but this one was beautifully designed and illistrated. Not only are the illistrations wounderful but the "about takashi" section of the book made for some brief and enlighting reading.



4. I got this book and I was suprized to find out that it had very little information whatsoever as to how his tanks were set up and the techniques he uses. I would not recommend this book for anything other then something nice to look at and wish that you hand the time to put into making your own tanks look like that.



5. Important to note this is part III in the series. If you own part one, this is a nice addition. If you don't own part one, get it first. It's the best of Amano's photo books. Yes, these are well photographed coffee table books, not manuals to "do it yourself," although they do give you a lot of good info to work with.

   The plant names don't correspond with Western plant names. You'll have to ID things yourself based on the photographs.

   A great book of inspiration once you know the essentials of aquatic plantscaping & fishkeeping.

   Amano's tanks are a living work of art. If you're already into freshwater planted fishtanks, get this book! After you've bought book one, Nature Aquarium World, of course

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.

4 comments about The Marine Fish Health & Feeding Handbook: The Essential Guide to Keeping Saltwater Species Alive and Thriving.

1. As a marine aquarist for over thirty years and a professional for twenty five years, I have waited for such a book to come around. The in depth coverage on fish disease and plain text makes it a valuable resource for both the professonal and hobbyst alike. I have purchased a copy for all my staff. Richard Oellers President New England Aquarium Services Inc.



2. I've successfully kept tropical marine aquariums in all sizes and shapes for almost thirty years - I started with a baby lionfish in a then-fashionable perspex cube and my last one was a ten-feet long, 240-gallons beautiful monster of a tank housing a whole complex reef community. I think I can safely say that Bob Goeman's new book is an exceptionally complete, well-written, easily understandable, beautifully illustrated guide to the do's and dont's of reef keeping which should not go missing from any serious marine aquarist bookshelf. I wish something of this scope had been available in the past - it would have saved me quite a few heartbreaking disasters!



3. The Marine Fish Health and Feeding Handbook should be on the shelf of every novice as well as veteran saltwater hobbyist. It is a beautifully presented book. It provides an excellent common sense overview of general marine fish maintenance, feeding and healthcare.
   
   The 232 page volume is broken down into 3 parts: The Healthy Marine Aquarium, Foods and Feeding, and Diseases and Conditions. The information contained in the 10 chapters provides a good starting point to assess why your saltwater fish tank and fish may not be thriving.
   
   The Section on Diseases and Conditions gives the aquarium hobbyist an introduction into the complexities of treating and diagnosing fish disease. However, the medical information contained in the book is general, and in a continually changing field of new treatments and medicines for use in marine fish, is not intended to supplant the use of an aquatic animal veterinarian, or aquarium consultants such as the author Lance Ichinotsubo, to correctly diagnose and treat many similar looking fish diseases and saltwater aquarium problems.
   
   Both authors have done a highly commendable job providing a wealth of practical knowledge in this book, garnered over their years as both aquarium hobbyists and professionals.
   
   Les Gerson, D.V.M. Aquatic Animal Veterinarian



4. I have been a tank keeper for twenty years and have read every book written on the subject. This new book by Bob Goeman's is by far the the most comprehensive, up to date,accurate, well written, and organized book to have been published in several years. The chapters on feeding and maintaing the health of the corals and fish are outstanding but there is so much other information in the book about the latest techniques of maintaining salt water aquariums. The book's title could have been "Everything You Need To Know To Maintain a Spectacular Marine Aquarium". There are at least a hundred beautiful photos and the information is cutting edge. Your tank can only benefit by your reading of this book!. It should be part of every "Reefers" library.
   Dr. Paul Carpenter

4 comments about Damselfishes & Anemonefishes (Reef Fishes).

1. This book's excellent content is certainly equal in quality to the first three. Economics being what it is, I can understand the slightly lower paper, and cover, quality of this volume. As to the number of books in the series, while more books will ultimately cost more, I'm inclined to believe that the actual scope of Mr. Michael's project grew beyond his original anticipation, and the amount information in the set will be worth the cost, and the wait -- although I really want the rest NOW! Good things take time. Hang in there, Scott... And, BTW, I note from the preview of the next (wrasse) volume the page count will be higher than this volume, which further justifies the additional volumes.



2. Yes, the paper is not quite as good as on the previous volumes. But given the skyrocketing price of paper, this is no surprise. It is still perfectly adequate and the images are top-notch. It is no surprise to me that this has expanded to multiple volumes given the economics of publishing such low-demand books.
   
   Scott Michael's series ultimately will be the most comprehensive series on marine fishes for aquarists. They are a treasure trove of useful information. I only hope they can get the rest of the series published in a timely fashion without compromising the quality and quantity of information.



3. Still would buy it but I was disappointed in the fact that they keep dragging the series out. Originally it was suppose to be 4 books..........then it went to six....Now it is nine books according to the newest book. I would agree the quality is not as high as the first 3. Still the information is good. Still I will have NINE BOOKS in my Library instead of 4. Lastly who knows how much longer it will take to release the rest.



4. While the content of this book is outstanding inline with the rest of the series the publisher of this book took many shortcuts including useing lower quality paper stock then previous volumes, decreasing the size of the book and increasing the size of the series in order to make more profit. I am highly disappointed in the publisher for taking these steps. What was originally supposed to be a 3 books series grew to 5 books with precious releases and with the release of this book has grown to 8 with each subsequant book in the series containing less information than the last.

2 comments about Cichlids (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. I purchased this book awhile back when I was first getting into Cichlids. It has alot of useful info, and it's easy to follow and refer back to. It gives good tips, and informative basic overveiw. If you're looking for more detailed and/or species/region specific info, this isn't the right book for you. If you are just getting into the hobby, this is a fabulous choice!



2. This books gives someone wanting to learn about Cichlids a good starting point. It covers several varieties, explaining their origins, behavior, breeding habbits and so on. It also gives some pointers on what varieties can coexist and some that shouldn't be mixed. Not all-ecompassiing by any means, but gives a person a good beginning overview to to Cichlids and to help you decide if this is the type of fish you want to put in your aquarium. I've read it to completion, am still interested and now am looking for more detailed information.

5 comments about Water Chemistry for the Marine Aquarium.

1. Strange for a book on this topic published in 2005 not to mention live-rock or the chemistry that goes on in the various in vogue substrate filtration systems.



2. 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.



3. 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.



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



5. 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....

3 comments about Aquarium Care of Cichlids (Animal Planet Pet Care Library).

1. From a Teacher. . .
   
   Claudia Dickinson's new book, the "Aquarium Care of Cichlids" is a great fish and learning resource for any new or veteran teacher, or simply for a student of cichlids, not only because it is so accurate and informative, but because of how it is written. The book understands teaching in that the pages are "interactive" and the chapters reflect an important teaching flow.
   The pages are "interactive" in design as they are filled with engaging images framed with different geometric shapes that captures the eye and draws you into the critical information provided in a short format and then expanded on throughout the chapter's pages. The engagement goes further by providing the reader, both young and old, with expert knowledge and summary pages for emphasis and clarity.
   The book is ideal for learning because of its logical flow that builds upon itself. First, the books starts with the critical question, "Why Cichlids," and then advances the reader Chapter by Chapter through background information, preparations to be accomplished, and then a number of critical care chapters. This emphasis on learning as you read and then putting the animals first is thoroughly reinforced next through a new important but action oriented question, "Which Cichlid is Best for Me?" The final chapter provides the "real" world connections that can be used by a veteran or newcomer to take their new-found knowledge to ever increasing levels of understanding. For me, as well as for my students, the book is as much a resource as a guide for thinking about the "Aquarium Care of Cichlids." If you have a cichlid tank at home, or in a classroom, this book should be close by for all to be taught about what they are seeing each day in their designed aquatic habitat. The book puts fish and learning first, and this fact makes the book invaluable. I recommend this book highly and without reservation based on my 35 years of teaching experience, work with teachers as a professor at Johns Hopkins University and the co-author of a number of curriculums.



2. This book is written by the consumate enthusiast. There is not a chapter that does not contain valuable and practical information on this outstanding family of fishes. Not only does the author enlighten you, she inspires you, or perhaps I should say she allows these fascinating fishes to inspire you. Cichlids are freshwater fish known for their intelligence and the wonderful parental care of their fry. No one has ever conveyed their amazing qualities better than Claudia Dickinson. I have been keeping aquarium fish for over 40 years, and have read many aquarium books (well over a hundred). I can assure potential buyers that this is must read for anyone interested in cichlids. It has a permanent place in my collection.



3. Those of us in-the-know have been anxiously awaiting the debut of Aquarium Care of Cichlids, by Claudia Dickinson. It has fulfilled our expectations, and then some! The author is an extremely experienced and knowledgeable aquarist. She shares all of that with her readers, along with her effervescent enthusiasm. On one page she becomes an historian, on another a scientist, and on many others she is a hobbyist just like you or me. Her writing style is friendly without being flippant!
   There are eight chapters simply overflowing with advice and information. It is published by T.F.H., and it is also part of the Animal Planet Pet Care Library; "Expertly written, these user-friendly guides are bound to delight the entire family."
   Even though this is Ms. Dickinson's first book, she is far from a beginning author. She has won multiple awards for the countless articles she has written for such publications as Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Cichlid News, Buntbarsche Bulletin, and Modern Aquarium, to name but a few.
   To quote Ms. Dickinson: "If reading this book sets you on the road to success with your first cichlid aquarium, these pages will have served their purpose well." Ultimately, YOUR review will be the most telling!
   (Submitted by the book review columnist for Modern Aquarium magazine.)