4 comments about Culturing Live Foods: A Step-By-Step Guide to Producing Food for Your Home Aquarium.

1. Let's face it; the subject of this book has the "Uggh!" factor. Raising worms and plankton and shrimp to feed to your fish does not appeal to everyone. But if you have ever had blackworms in your refrigerator or brine-shrimp in your freezer, you need this book in your library.
   
   This book tells how certain old-school aquarium keepers had success raising difficult-to-breed fish using live foods, and then shared their methods by word-of-mouth with others. This book is filled with advice passed on from an accomplished hobbyist.
   
   An alternate title for this book might have been "Culturing Fish Using Live Foods". The author explains how using live food leads to success in conditioning fish to breed and in raising their offspring. Then he explains in clear detail how to raise the live foods. Use Amazon's Search Inside feature to find some examples related to your interests: cichlid, livebearer, killie, etc.
   
   This could be a coffee table book for tropical fish enthusiasts. Any serious hobbyist would have to pick it up and leaf through it. It's a visually attractive book with a lot of fantastic photographs and bold colors throughout. The book is well organized and has a fair amount of sidebar articles. The book also gives detailed, practical information for raising live foods.



2. Culturing Live Foods
   By
   Michael R. Hellweg
   
   Since Mike Hellweg is an old and valued friend/colleague in the tropical fish hobby, my opinions about his new book "Culturing Live Foods" may be a little biased - although they really need not be. "Culturing Live Foods" is a much-needed, and excellently written book, and it is an important contribution to the aquarium hobby. Mike is well known throughout the hobby as not only an accomplished writer, but also a master breeder, and he shares with us the fact that much of his success in breeding fishes comes from giving live foods to both the breeders, and the offspring.
   "Culturing Live Foods" starts with a very interesting discussion of the history of fish foods, and the reasons for feeding live foods today, even though we have a wide variety of excellent frozen and dry foods available to us. The book then discusses the tools and containers needed, and getting starter cultures, for live foods. The foods themselves start with the smallest ones that are used - phytoplankton, or "Green water". Protozoans, or "infusoria" are then discussed, and then somewhat larger foods such as copepods, rotifers and vinegar eels. Much space is devoted to brine shrimp, which is fitting as they are probably the most common live food in the hobby. Mike discusses hatching, enriching and growing live brine shrimps to adults, as well as decapsulating the cysts (eggs).
   As the book progresses we move up in size for the live foods, from worms (whiteworms, tubifex, blackworms and earthworms) to snails and crustaceans such as daphnia, moina and mysis shrimps. Other shrimps such as glass or grass shrimps and various species of Neocaridina are covered. Insects are the next category, and they include flour beetles, fruit flies, mealworms and mosquito larvae - including the constant battle between hobbyists and spouses about whether the standing water that has been left out was left there on purpose or by mistake, the net effect being a nice population of mosquito larvae that the hobbyist finds terrific for feeding fish, and the spouse sees only as a source of biting insects. The final group of live foods are fish, and here Mike mentions the problems with buying feeder fish from the local fish store (or bait store), and he strongly suggests that hobbyists raise their own feeder fish if at all possible.
   Mike's book is packed with a wealth of detailed information, and yet it is much more than a simple "How To" book. It is an interesting, well written and very informative book, and covers all aspects of live foods, from starting cultures to collecting foods from the wild. There is an excellent group of resources at the end of the book in terms of related books, magazines, Internet sites and suppliers of live foods and cultures. "Culturing Live Foods" should be in the library of any fish hobbyist who wants to keep, and breed, fish successfully.



3. I'm really happy to see this book. It's been a long time since we have had updated comprehensive information. This is presented beautifully and very well written. Any serious Aquarist should plan on this book for their collection. You won't be disappointed.



4. This is a terrific, up-to-date resource by Mike Hellweg, a master fish breeder whose success with fish is built on his success in feeding his fish appropriate live foods.
   
   I've been discussing the culture of various live foods with Mike for several years now, and studying a lot of what has been easily available on the internet, and even put together my own web page reviewing the techniques I've used with my own cultures. But this book has already given me new tips and tricks on creatures I thought I knew all about, and given me confidence to try some that I've failed with in the past. The details are just right to enable success with each organism, and there are good sources for more information if you want or need it.
   
   This book is also an excellent primer on spawning fish, because several species are discussed as easily bred feeders for larger fish. Those are tips you can use to propagate those and related species for your own enjoyment even if you don't keep predatory fish.
   
   I can't recommend this highly enough for the aquarist who wants to keep and spawn happy, healthy fish.

5 comments about The Reef Aquarium: Science, Art, and Technology, Vol. 3.

1. I've kept marine and reef aquaria for over a decade now, have a small tropical and marine fish shop downtown, and have bought and read probably a couple dozen books on keeping marine fish and reef tanks, including Volumes 1 and 2 by the same authors. If I could have just one of all the books I've read on the topic, to read and refer back to whenever necessary, it would be this volume. It's not a beginner's book, but it's wonderfully comprehensive and understandable for one who's already a little familiar with the subject matter. For one who understands most of the "whats" of keeping a reef aquarium, but is confused about many of the "whys," this book answers those questions with very clear and readable explanations.



2. I can't say much on this book except IT is a MUST HAVE FOR EVERY REEF AQUARIUM KEEPER! A very2 good book to have, it's worth the price I tell you.



3. This is a book that every one should own, that want's or has a reef Aquarium. This book go's into great details.



4. very informative and comprehensive, would strongly recomend it for beginner and experienced reefer. Well worth the money



5. Great read with all the information you would need to create, maintain, and sustain a reef tank. However, the book can be overwhelming with information about every theroy out there about filtration, etc., with out really recommending the best approach/technology to maintaining reef systems. For a beginner, it was a lot of reading to get what I needed. Overall, I would buy it again.

5 comments about The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums (Simple Guide to...).

1. However, if you do have moderate experience in managing aquariums, this book probably won't be as relevant. For someone just starting out, this book offers plenty of simple instructions and explanations to help you on your journey!
   
   I especially appreciate that Boruchowitz encourages those new to the aquarium hobby to go with lower lighting and low-light plants. This will save you so much money, time, and frustration in the beginning, making the tank a lot easier and more enjoyable to manage.
   
   The author's suggestion to give with larger tanks is also sound advice. 10-gallon and nano tanks are better left for the more experienced hobbyist. Larger = more stable water parameters.
   
   When mentioning substrates, I don't feel the author went into quite enough detail. He tells of the proper pebble sizes for inert gravel but does not include examples of what can be combined with it to create an environment more suitable for your aquatic plants. For inert gravel, you can add laterite to the bottom layer. Some people use peat moss. If you decide to go with a substrate specifically designed to stand alone in your aquarium, ADA AquaSoil, Carib Sea Eco-Complete, and Seachem Flourite are great options. Or they can be mixed with or added to the lower layer of inert gravel. ;)
   
   When stating which catfish are suitable for beginners, I do think Otocinclus catfish ("oto") deserve recognition too. They're great for cleaning algae off plants though they are fairly sensitive (not very hardy).



2. I just started my first tank with my roommate and we refer to the book as the fish bible...
   
   It has been so helpful to have a source of info like this so we know what we need to get and what the pet store people are just trying to sell us to make a few bucks. Very good info on how to set up the tank and which fish to put in. Also very helpful on how to keep your first fish alive and how to go about getting a full tank. Overall I'm extremely happy that I bought this book as it has walked me through starting my own tank.



3. I purchased this a couple years ago after having been out of the Aquarium hobby for several years and then deciding to get back in again. I found it to be very informative, building on what I learned 20-30 years ago and outlining many considerations that, today, are common knowledge in the hobby, but was unkown by the average aquarist of the 70s & 80s.
   
   Very good book to read before you add fish to your new aquarium!



4. This book is an outstanding and easy to read resource for anyone who is interested in setting up an aquarium. I read it cover to cover. I often refer to it as "my fish Bible"! I have lent this book to friends who were troubleshooting common aquarium problems, and they too have found it to be extremely useful.
   
   The goal of the book is to give you a wealth of information BEFORE you buy your tank and your fish. It will help you to not make common mistakes. However, this book is a great resource or "refresher course" for those already interested and involved in the fishkeeping hobby.
   
   This book is an overview on the main setup of a freshwater tank. While it does go into individual species a bit, you may want to get more specific and specialized books about the species you are interested in. The parts about individual species are not very in-depth.
   
   Overall -- this is a fantastic resource, and your fish will thank you for getting this book!
   
   Good luck, and happy fishkeeping!



5. This book could be a good tool if it was organized a little bit. I found it difficult to locate the information I was looking for from the index. If you have the time to read it as you would a novel, you might find useful information. If, like me, you need a guide to setting up a fresh-water aquarium and some info on fish and plants, it is a little too scattered in various sections that didn't make much sense to me...

5 comments about Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants.

1. This is a very good all round book for aquatic plants from the substrata , to light requirments etc etc. This book even give basic gardening requirments and arranging to have a healthy and attractice garden in your aquarium .



2. This is a beautiful book with many high quality pictures of the plants. Overall it has well organized content but some informations are just not specific enough. For example, how much CO2 to dose to your tank is appropriate? How much Gh is a water soft or hard? How much time it normally takes to "cycle" a tank? No introduction on the pros and cons of different CO2 reactors types. Some answers may not be trivial but at least general guide line should be provided to be any useful.



3. Don't purchase this book unless you are a botanist. It is very difficult to understand and the layout impossible to follow.



4. I found this book very informative when I was setting up my 75 gallon Discus aquarium. Thanks to the information, pictures and various expamples it gave, I gained the knowledge to pick the way I wanted to set up my aquarium and what plants would be the better choices for the lower ph, higher temp. water used for Discus. Very good read.



5. I loved this book! It has very in-depth information. I've always had problems with algae in my planted aquarium and this book explains several reasons why this occurs and how to prevent it. It explains, in detail, nutrient requirements, lighting options, ways that fish and invertebrates interact with plants, and which plants are best for beginners. It explains complicated information with clear diagrams. Finally, there is a great list of plants with photos and info.
   
   The only negative thing I can say is that this book is probably not the best for someone who only wants one or two plants in their aquarium and is looking for a simple introduction. This book isn't very simple, but it does offer clear explanations of many topics relating to growing plants in your aquarium.

5 comments about A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Invertebrates: 500+ Essential-to-Know Aquarium Species.

1. Outstanding photographs, concise and accurate descriptions, and a nice style of writing. What more could you ask for? I don't have a reef aquarium, but I do refer to this all the time whenever I'm curious about saltwater life other than the finned variety. I've used it to pick out which types of snails and shrimp to include, and which ones to stay away from. It's not a book to read from cover-to-cover, but it's an indispensible reference.



2. i bought this book as a biginner to quide me through the types of invertebrates, it has everything you need to know, i use it as my guide and so far it is working wonderfully. easy to read and search. it has almost all the species out there. this is the book that i would keep forever.



3. Excellent for anyone who has a saltwater fish tank. I've had fish tanks for 20 years and wish I had this resource to let me know in advance what requirements certain fish, corals and invertebrates have as far as size of tank, salinity, etc...which corals/invertebrates are easy to keep and which require way more than I could hope to provide. This is a must have.



4. A necessary reference for Reef Keepers! Unfortunately as the title says it only covers 500 marine invertebrates! Dr. Shimek offers great information and recommendations!



5. This book has it all when looking for invertebrate information. When looking to learn about corals, starfish, or anything else that is not a fish this book will be a great resource. With its compact size you can take it to the fish store and have an unbiased source of information you can count on.

5 comments about Saltwater Aquariums For Dummies (For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback)).

1. This book makes saltwater aquariums seem easier than they actually are. For one, I don't even think the book mentions the use of reverse osmosis or deionized water, which is strongly recommended by all marine aquarists. The author also doesn't mention the importance of live rock. In fact, he goes as far to advise against using live rock for fish-only tanks! Sure, you might be able to get away with not using live rock, but it won't be worth it in the long run. Also, I don't agree with the list of recommended filter combinations. One more thing, the book lists an air stone as essential equipment, but the only thing an air stone will do is aid evaporation and cause salt creep! If you have enough movement of water at the surface, you should get sufficient gas exchange. There is, however, one thing the book does get right: its strong recommendation of using a protein skimmer.
   
   This book is easy to understand, but you won't be getting the best information.



2. This book is filled with lots of wonderful information for starting your first saltwater aquarium. However, it reads like a dictionary. It's simply need-to-know information without much rhythm. I found myself actually nodding off while trying to read this book at 5 p.m. More pictures would probably have helped keep my interest, but I can't say for sure. Otherwise, Saltwater Aquariums for Dummies had useful information that I was able to apply to my aquarium hobby.



3. This is a wonderfully informative book for a anyone just getting into salt water aquariums



4. Helped me to start my information gathering for starting a salt water tank. Also helped me know what questions to ask when looking for other sources of information.



5. before you kill your fish, read this book... very thorough easy and fun to read.

5 comments about The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists.

1. Wow, this is a wonderful book. I am going to set up a reef tank very soon, and this book will be very helpful when I have to make decisions for my new tank.



2. This book inspired me to do a live reef tank instead of just a fish tank!



3. This book provides a great overview of the hobby. This is really where most people should start off reading in the hobby to determine if they're going to create a reef in their living room. Perhaps some should start with Paletta's The New Marine Aquarium first as a quick 1 day read, but really those who plan on enjoying the hobby would be well served by skipping the superbasic and getting into this book. That's not to say this is the only book you'll ever need - but this is enough book for most people to be quite content with. (For those of you who are 'bitten' by the hobby, The Reef Aquarium series by Delbeek & Sprung is an excellent resource, but there are others.) Enjoy,



4. I have been keeping a marine tank for less than 1 year. I got tired of just using the internet for all my knowledge-base of marine aquariums; spending many hours digging through all the forums for whatever current problem/issue i had, reading so many conflicting opinions and answers from 'experts', and often ending up at least as confused as when i began.
   
   So I bought this book, read it, and feel much better equipped for the hobby. I still refer heavily to internet sources for more granular knowledge, but at least I now have a solid, reliable source for a foundation on which to build.
   
   This book gave me more confidence, and left me eager to learn and do more in this hobby. It is beautifully illustrated, well composed, and the author conveys his own passion of the hobby and eagerness to educate responsible marine hobbyists.



5. This is a very informative book for anyone who is starting up a new saltwater aquarium. The illustrations are great. It covers a lot of depth and provides practical tips to setting up and maintaining an aquarium.

5 comments about A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Fishes: 500+ Essential-To-Know Aquarium Species.

1. As someone looking to start a saltwater tank, I picked up this book to fully understand what species I want and SHOULD put in the tank I plan on setting up. This book is invaluable in pointing me to fish that will be the most appropriate for me, a new saltwater aquarist, to support. This book is a saltwater version of Tropical Freshwater Aquarium Fish from A to Z (Compass Guides), which like the Marine Fishes book, includes detailed information about minimum tank sizes, feeding guidance, and tips for captive care. A "suitability" color-code is also displayed for each species ranging from green (a hardy fish which is suitable for most hobbyists) to red (leave the fish in the reef).
   
   If you're new to saltwater tanks like me, I recommend you also read Complete Encyclopedia of the Saltwater Aquarium and the Aquarium Corals : Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History to gain an understanding of what's required to set up and maintain a healthy saltwater environment. Slow and steady is the word. They've certainly helped me understand what it is I need to do and this Marine Fishes book is a handy take-along for visits to the local fish stores.



2. This book has been unbelievably helpful in helping me to decide which fish I should choose as I set up my first saltwater aquarium. The photographs are clear and bright, and there are many, many species represented here. The code makes it quick and easy to see if a certain fish is compatible with what I already have in my tank. Now, when I go to buy a fish, I keep this book in my car. I go into the shop to see what they have, and if there is something that catches my interest, I'll come back out to the car and look up the description before I make a purchase. This has saved me on a few occasions - not all of the sales people really know what they're talking about, but I have complete confidence in this book for giving me the unbiased facts. This really is a "must buy"!!



3. this book i bought as my first aquaruim quide, it is amazing, i love this book, it has all what i need and more than 500 kinds of fish.
   i have bought all my fish so far by researching thm in this book and it is working wonderfull. pictures are great quality and information are more than enough to know and keep the fish.
   i absolutly recommend that you buy this book.



4. This is a must have book for the novice to choose which fish are right for your tank



5. If you need a quick, comprehensive marine fish reference book this is the one to get. It is small enough to bring with you to the fish store and get a quick rundown on behaviors, ease of keeping, etc.
   
   If you ask the fish store about a fish, they are probably looking in this book for the answer.

5 comments about Aquarium Corals : Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History.

1. This book comes in hard cover, and is like having a High school biology text book in your hands. It is very informative, and is easy to read. They dont get too complicated with their terms, and are complete with their topics. A must have for the library of a living reef aquarium.



2. This is a valuable asset for any marine aquarium hobbyist, it is well written, easy to read and understand and is a useful resource tool for the experienced and novice reefer.



3. Great reference with some pretty good insight to go along with it. I wish it would have been more in depth when describing water flow and lighting but it does cover alot of other topics including feeding and coral toxicity. I will refer to it often.



4. This book has and continues to help us. I feel it is well worth the money.



5. I'm new in salt water aquarium. I'm reading, studing, looking for informations to care my reef with safe and with environmental responsability. This book was essencial to construct the knowledgement that helped me in this challenge (to keep sea life above sea level).
   
   Aquarium Corals is: "This is a new field of discovery --come and be part of it." (Foreword by Dr. J.E.N Veron)

5 comments about The New Marine Aquarium: Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide.

1. The writer did just as intended in this book. It is a starter book for someone starting a marine aquarium and it does that precisely without going into heavy details which would create a sense of doom for the new marine aquarium keeper. I spent years with my successful tank and I owe it largely to Michael who is also a sometimes writer for Marine Depot and other places.



2. I would recommend this to anyone interested in starting a marine aquarium. The author provides a to the point and practical guide to setting up your first or next tank. You do not need a biology degree to enjoy it.



3. This is a great book and perhaps the best one I have read for a newbie who wants to set up a marine aquarium



4. i started a marine aquarium from scratch and with no knowledge. it was very confusing but without this book i don't know what i would have done. it covers all the basics, got me up and running and with no problems.



5. If you've ever considered buying a saltwater fishtank - this is " THE BOOK " to read first. It covers all the basics you need for a Saltwater Fish tank with Live Rock and Fish.
   
   This book gives a complete soup to nuts blueprint of the basics needed - equiptment needed - and even an option to get started on a smaller scale if need be - although the ideal minimum size would be a 40 gallon for Saltwater Tank - there is a blueprint for a 15 or 20 gallon tank - along with suggestions to get started on a restricted budget.
   
   This book is a great reference book - but doesn't attempt to cover more advanced topics such as corals / refugium tanks ( I wish this would have been included ). I'd highly recommend this book as a first read compared to the other 4 books I've read. After reading this book - I'd suggest joining an online community like Reef Central or one of many other online saltwater forums. These sites can fill in the gaps for any questions taht may arise while getting started - or more advanced issues you may experience while upkeeping your tank.