[dvd_wightman]

I am planning to start a 29 gallon saltwater tank hopefully soon. This has been my main source so far, and I plan on buying The New Marine Aquarium by Michael Paletta and The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Robert Fenner as other sources. Do these sound good? Also, what are some other good references beside these books and this website? Thanks for the help!

-Dave

[Jeremy0322]

Fenners book was great, has alot of really good information in it and lovely pictures.

[msbdiving]

I liked Fenner's book also. I would like to buy Charles Delbeek's books also but am usually at an impasse. Book or coral. Can never seem to save up enough for his books. Not like I have had anytime to do any recreational reading lately.

[rlcline76]

I was bad, didn't get the Fenner book until a month or so ago. I haven't really read it...I read here and there as a reference. But it would make for a good starting point.

Always good to hear that people are reading!

As far as the rest of my personal reefing library: I like Shimek's Marine Invertebrates book. I also have Calfo and Fenner's Reef Invertebrates book...I'm looking into Julian Sprung, but will refrain until after the holidays. I also am waiting for my Coral magazine to arrive in the mail.

[pogodzib]

I like the book "Aquarium Corals" by Eric Borneman for helping decide what corals are good to keep and identification.

Regarding how I would set up my tank, I'd read "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" and look what people on-line recommend and how their tanks are setup. Books are great for providing proven facts and info, but they usually don't have the lasted technologies in them so if you setup a system based only upon what you read in books, you may be missing the newest and improved technologies that are available - and in this hobby, things such as equipment are changing and improving quickly. Most books won't talk about mesh wheel skimmers or T5HO lighting. You'll only find that in magazines and on-line.

[rlcline76]

Definitely. I like to look at the copyright on everything that I read. There is classic info that holds true, but then there things that seem to change with advancements in technology.

Brian...I am almost certain that Fenner would not change his opinion on anything he had to say in his book! lol

[pogodzib]

Originally Posted by rlcline76

Brian...I am almost certain that Fenner would not change his opinion on anything he had to say in his book! lol

You're right. He, along with virtually all of the best authors out there, keep their info basic and stick to proven methods so that they don't fall into the "latest and greatest fad" trap and have the book outdated right away or wrong if the fad doesn't stand the test of time.

[rlcline76]

I just ordered a few used books from Amazon.
Sprung's Algae Problem Solver Guide
Tullock's Water Chemistry for the Marine Aquarium
Chris Andrews' Manual of Fish Health

I keep coming across these...amongst other books...while I am researching. Anyone have these? Are they any good?

[pogodzib]

Nope, nope, & nope. I like being in the dark when problems arise. J/K You'll need to let us know what you think of them.