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The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium, Vol. 1
This 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 will appreciate the wealth of information and beautiful illustrations. Special emphasis on reef construction, zoogeography, marine algae, and microbiology affords and invaluable tool for designing an ecologically responsible system. 650 high quality color photographs, numerous maps, tables, drawings, and diagrams. It is the bible of reef books in Europe!
368 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 3, 2013
There are thousands of books on marine aquaria and you'd struggle to tell most of them apart, often filled with contradictory and just plain wrong advice you are much better learning online.
This one however is a standout exception. Although a product of it's time it anticipates advances in methods that are now taken as standard. It also eschews the modern uber hi-tech (some might say snake-oil) methods of control (eg herbicides, dosing, vodka etc) in favour of a natural approach of ... just waiting. It explains that most of what you see in the early stages of establishing a tank are just phases and will go of their own accord, or with some carefully chosen inverts. Once you have established a stable tank like this (a year at least) as long as it's large enough, you need only control on or two parameters (depending on your substrate/contents, probably KH and Ca) and you can even not worry about these if you change enough water frequently enough.
It does advocate a more laid back and tolerant approach to that currently in fashion: If you freak out when you find a Valonia bubble, or boil your live rock every six months to kill the bristleworms, this isn't for you. However if you want a (relatively) low maintenance, nice looking and stable aquarium and can tolerate (or even enjoy) the odd unusual hitchiker, you should follow this to the letter.
Unfortunately for me I only bought it after finding out many things the hard way but it did confirm a lot of what I suspected and had I read it first would have saved me some grief. It does however have a wealth of information that is as interesting to the seasoned reef-keeper as it is to the beginner.
It's a pity it's so hard to find/expensive. I guess it's out of print, but if ever a book needed another edition it's this one. (I have only this volume, I don't recall what the others are about (fish and coral in more detail I guess) but for general setup and maintenance this is all you need). Definitely worth the price if you can find a copy.
This one however is a standout exception. Although a product of it's time it anticipates advances in methods that are now taken as standard. It also eschews the modern uber hi-tech (some might say snake-oil) methods of control (eg herbicides, dosing, vodka etc) in favour of a natural approach of ... just waiting. It explains that most of what you see in the early stages of establishing a tank are just phases and will go of their own accord, or with some carefully chosen inverts. Once you have established a stable tank like this (a year at least) as long as it's large enough, you need only control on or two parameters (depending on your substrate/contents, probably KH and Ca) and you can even not worry about these if you change enough water frequently enough.
It does advocate a more laid back and tolerant approach to that currently in fashion: If you freak out when you find a Valonia bubble, or boil your live rock every six months to kill the bristleworms, this isn't for you. However if you want a (relatively) low maintenance, nice looking and stable aquarium and can tolerate (or even enjoy) the odd unusual hitchiker, you should follow this to the letter.
Unfortunately for me I only bought it after finding out many things the hard way but it did confirm a lot of what I suspected and had I read it first would have saved me some grief. It does however have a wealth of information that is as interesting to the seasoned reef-keeper as it is to the beginner.
It's a pity it's so hard to find/expensive. I guess it's out of print, but if ever a book needed another edition it's this one. (I have only this volume, I don't recall what the others are about (fish and coral in more detail I guess) but for general setup and maintenance this is all you need). Definitely worth the price if you can find a copy.
Displaying 1 of 1 review