[.ca] Marine Reef Aquarium Handbook (ISBN 0812095987)

compact reef guide:
It should be rated at 5 stars but I give only 4 stars because of its technical nature and my beginner's comprehension. After that, it is a compact guide full of useful, hands-on info that helps the hobbyist create their own ideal aquarium environment.

No common name references:
Don't get me wrong, this book is good, however... while reading the book, it uses mostly the scientific names for everything. It would be nice if after the scientific name, it has a common name in parenthesis, you know, using the names the fish stores use. Other than that, it is a decent book.

Good reference:
I like the pictures & the info is good for a reef beginner like me. I've had freshwater tanks for years, so the basic salt intro was what I needed & this fits the bill.

Five stars?:
Yes, 5 stars! Pound for pound (and dollar for dollar) this is one of the best books on marine reef keeping you can buy. I own several reef and aquarium books. They range from the brilliant, to the not-so-swift-waste-of-money types. The "Marine Reef Aquarium Handbook" by Robert J. Goldstein ranks waaaay up the list, kept from the top only because of its brevity. This book touches on a LOT of topics, and it covers them in enough detail to really help you understand and apply what you need to keep your reef (or any aquarium) running well. Due to its (somewhat) small size, it does not cover topics in great detail. Depending on what you want, that may or may not be a good thing. There is however, enough information, written in plain English, for any aquarium keeper--from rank beginner, to the Old Man in the Sea--to learn something new. No, this book doesn't contain the depth of information that one of those $80 marine reef books does. But it contains a wealth of information and will send you well on your way to starting up a reef or maintaining your current reef. Even if you're just looking for an interesting read, you can't go wrong with the "Marine Reef Aquarium Handbook" by Robert J. Goldstein.

Excellent Reference Book!:
In the past two years, I have engulfed myself into Reef keeping and have finally been able to properly maintain a great mini-reef. Along the way, I have wasted tons of money because pure ignorance. Most of the things I wish I knew when I started were in the book. If you have a reef tank, are thinking of starting a reef, or want to improve your current set up, this is one of the books to add to your library. This book clearly (but sometimes too technically) explains everything you need to know about: - Live Rock - Protein Skimming - Heating/Chilling - Wave making - Proper Lighting - Care of marine fish - Care of soft and hard corals - How to save money on unnecessary items - How to feed your fish and corals what they really want - So much more... For $15.00 bucks, you cannot beat it! I would also recommend: Natural Reef Aquariums by John Tullock ISBN# 1890087009