Do you use reef keeping books as a source of information?

I have quite a collection of Reef Books:

- The Reef Aquarium - Vol 1 and 2, by Julian Sprung
- Aquarium Corals - by Eric Borneman
- Corals - A quick Reference Guide, by Julian Sprung
- Invertebrates - A Quick Reference Guide, by Julian Sprung
- Reef Invertebrates - by Anthony Calfo & Robert Fenner
- Marine Aquarium - by Vincent Hargreaves
- Marine Invertebrates - PocketExpert - by Ronald Shimek
- Marine Fishes - PoketExpert - Scott Michael

Plus I subscribe to FAMA, Aquarium Fish, and CORAL magazines

Bob

Of course I think every one should, I also use the internet, but it isn't enough.

Josh

Never ever used a reef keeping book as a sorce of info. I actually never owner one. Im to cheap to buy one. I just use the internet. It gives me TONS of info.

I started by reading books. but they get outdated so quickly, that I don't see as much utility in reading them.

But, I still keep Fenner's book next to the can.

Hahahaha.

I actually dont have any reef books but I should get some, since im in the hobby. I like reading but I havent gotten to it.

Usualy i use them for fish research/identification, or if I am looking for design ideas. Usually look at the picture more than i read them i do have to admin.

I'd like to get a good book on coral/invert species identification. As far as general reefkeeping, it's a changing hobby, so they do get old. Try reading a computer magazine or book from five years ago....it's sad.

Reef Secrets by nilsen and fossa is also an awesome book. Has a lot of interesting stuff even for more advance reefers. I like this book because it answers more of those "how come?" questions rather than just "how to" like most books do. Probably my favorite reference book right now.

ha ha! yep. a lot of those books still feature pictures of undergravel filters. ha ha.

1980 called...they want their undergravel filters back!

Tigahboy and Caesar777 know everything, why bother to read a book? Search nano-reef then post a thread.

Marine Invertebrates - PocketExpert - by Ronald Shimek
Marine Fishes - PocketExpert - Scott Michael

Those are 2 great books...

Excellent starter book for beginners:



This one with Paletta's helps fill in some blank spots. No ONE book is perfect. SH

The nice thing about published books is that they are usually always peer evaluated and edited so the information is accurate. What you find on the internet could be pushlished by a retail store and effected to make you feel good about buying something rediculous.

A good example is many new hobbyists insistance on using liveaquaria.com as a source of information. I've honestly never seen so much misinformation in one place. From inproper husbandry information or none at all, to misleading stocking suggestions and under-estimated lifespans and adult sizes.

Relying on internet information can be quite dangerous. If you're talking new morphs and popular trends, sure the internet is best. But if you're looking for scientific information, there's better.

Just my, as always, humble opinion!

I have one old book I began reading when I started, but now I use the Internet and my LFS. They are very good and seem to be interested in their customer success more than just trying to make a buck. However, I mostly use the Internet.

I do find it a bit funny that someone can diss information from one source as bogus and then site another piece when truth be told neither one of them really has any more credibility than the other. I've been fishkeeping for a long time, and if there is one thing I know is that the hobby in general is flooded with faulty research, both in print and on the web.

Now, I don't say that to discredit any particular site or author but just because something is in print does not mean that it holds more credibility than a web page or vice versa. If you are operating under the assumption that something in print has gone through scrutiny to prove what it says, you ain't never been around the publishing industry, have ya? lol. Anyone can write a book (and get it published, even better now a days, publish it themselves), anyone can put a web site up regardless of validity. Authors may have good intentions, and in general be "respected" in a hobby but still produce what amounts to scientific poo poo for a book or article. In any article/book just because a few terms and measurements get tossed around that look good, does not mean that there are not 1001 reasons that the conclusions and/or the methods used to reach and prove them are flawed.

There is very little "good" science that actually goes into the aquarium hobby. There isn't really enough that goes into marine biology in general for our own sake as inhabitants of the planet much less to figure out improved methods of keeping mandarin gobies in a box of water displayed in my living room. Yes, I know that better methods developing aquacultured livestock will reduce pressures on ecosystems... but there are bigger issues for marine biology to tackle. Reality is there is just not enough money in this hobby to fund much actual scientific research. (despite the proportionately outrageous sums anyone reading this has likely contributed)

I came into reef keeping with a "grain of salt" mentality regarding research, gathering information and opinions and then in the end generally going with my gut regarding final decisions in terms of what seems to make sense to me or not. In general that works for me. I find that forums like this one (and other FW forums I've been on for years) more useful than the vast majority of published (print or the web) material in general because they detail more real world examples of successes and failures.

TCMA-Fenner- my first and only book on the topic.

I've got 2 aquarium books I read: the Reef Aquarium vol.1, by Julian Sprung, and Nature Aquarium World, by Takashi Amano...Except that last one's for planted tanks. I also have a handful of of old 80's material, and one from 1966, which is pretty freakin' outdated.

Oh, I know the majority of people wont agree with me in that books are better sources. I/we live in the US where books are as well liked as aiptasia. LOL. I admit to being a book loving 'nerd'.

I have around 30 books on aquariums, fish, corals and inverts.

Even with all these books the web is still a good source of reference to compare the facts. Theres so much mis-information on the net and in books that I think you need to use both to get the (as close to) correct information on whatever it is your researching and learning about IMO.

I keep reef books handy they have a lot of good info.

lol, i got bornemans book in mine

I think books are a great source of information, when they are up-to-date. I have Reef Secrets, The New Marine Aquarium, The Conscientious Marine Aquarist, The Simpl Guide to Mini-Reefs, and a new book on they way!

I know this is an old post....

the internet is my only source of information.
mostly forums nano-reef.com / reefcentral.com
it would be easier to start out with books though.

it's hard to use books only, especially if you have questions, want to do anything out of the ordinary or want to be cheap like me. are there any books that would tell me about lighting my tank with LEDs only and growing macro w/ LEDs and how to build my tank from scratch and use great stuff foam background? I doubt it.

No, they give just basic information, far from complete, important and useful for daily keeping. Web and forums are the places where are people willing to help, thanks, people!

Hey Zachtos,

This is off the subject, but you used great stuff foam for your background in a reef tank?

I used great stuff foam for the background on my NC24 viv, but never tried it with saltwater.
Do you have any pictures you can post, maybe even start a new thread with info using the great stuff foam background. I don't think many people even know about it or consider using in a reef tank.

Rick

Anyone reading Chris Brightwells new book specificaly about nano-reefs? Opinions?

I just ordered it from Amazon.

Fishwannabe

The book I really like is a small one, yet it is jam-packed with information. It's called The Marine Reef Aquarium by Goldstein. It's really, quite good, except for the fact that the corals are described in Latin names

absolutly (though, i also ask my lfs for help)

Natural Reef Aquariums gave me my formal intro to the hobby

Where's waldo.But there is a nano reef keeping book its by Christopher Brightwell.(a guy frome here maby)

I have 4-5 books but only one of them is an absolutely must-own in my opinion:

"Aquarium Corals" by Eric Borneman. I find myself going back and rereading sections of it all the time. It also has an extensive set of references if you want to look at the actual research. Anybody in this hobby who doesn't have this book should absolutely get a copy.

I've got one more on order from Amazon and one reserved at the library. Hopefully one of them will be worth my time.

I prefer books but they are expensive and can get out-dated after time. Libraries have good selections from time to time but not always. The net is a decent source of info but you have to be careful what you believe. Always check out a few places!

I like to read. So, I own most of the popular reef keeping books as well as a couple marine biology books.

I find them handy and informative. I definately would never purchase a coral, fish or invertebrate without consulting my collection of books and nano-reef.com.

I get 90% of my advice from other aquarists, but I hit the books the other 10% when I get 'conflicting' information... A good example is my Copperband Butterfly... The book called it a difficult species to keep, and he was one of the easiest in my tank!

I only have The Nano Reef Handbook by Chris Birghtwell, wouldnt mind to git some others tho!

LOL, I broke out a old book from 89 the other day and thumbed threw it. I think it was Marine and reef systems and invertbrates by Martin Moe. Lot of out dated stuff on water chemistry but still good stuff on DIY that would still apply such as skimmers, reactors, tanks and sumps.

I get most my info through internet research now but back when I bought that book there was nothing really on the net.

Nano Reef = Free

Books = $$ and you have to read

So far I've been getting my information from the web - chiefly this site and Reef Central. (And mostly this site.) Earlier today I ordered a couple of books.

The biggest thing I expect from the books is the systematic organization of the information. I expect to find - for example - something about what kind of animal is a coral. Then break it down to groups of corals and their characteristics. And finally, I expect to find a list of commonly found corals with individual descriptions of their characteristics. Plus I'll be getting information from someone who is a known expert in the field. That's not to say that the folks on this forum are not experts. I'm sure that many have expertise in various areas that exceed the book author. And there are others that do not. I just followed an old thread between two enthusiasts who had just started out. Before long they were advising each on issues for which they could have no personal experience. [boggle.] They were simply repeating what they had read on the site. Does something become true if it is repeated often enough?

There are some excellent attempts to systematize the information presented here such as the Coral Info Database. It's an excellent resource for picking out some "first time" corals and I presume that is it's focus. I can go to my LFS and see many many more corals than what are listed there, so it is nowhere near comprehensive. Maybe we need to start "fishipedia" along the lines of Wikipedia. (Actually, when I googled Maroon Clown, I did find an entry there.) Igreen's Ultimate Nano Fish Guide is also a great start. But consider the quantity of material compared to a printed book and you will see that Igreen has a daunting task ahead of him before his web publication comes close to a published book. This is not to dis' the efforts put forth to put these guides together, but rather to put in perspective what can be accomplished by a hobbyist in their spare time vs. a paid professional.

On the other hand, when I want to buy a book, I have found no better place than the Internet - be it forums like this or news groups - to research that topic. In some topic areas (like computer programming) there is an incredible amount of absolute trash gets published. One of the best ways to identify the better publications is to ask a group of people who have read the books. When selecting reef books, I started with the discussion in the common pitfalls thread (http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...p;#entry1018974) and ordered "Natural Reef Aquariums" and "Aquarium Corals" with full confidence that I am ordering the best books on those subjects that are available.

The Internet is a terrific way to connect with like minded individuals the world over. For information that relies on collective experience, it is tops. I don't see it replacing dead tree publications yet. Eventually I have no doubt that it will.

-hank

always i love to read

nope. Just internet and advice from reef buddies.
I don't buy any books really, too expensive for something that just sits on a shelf when the SAME info can be found free on the internet.