[.ca] Ultimate Marine Aquariums: Saltwater Dream Systems and ... (ISBN 1890087742)

How Are they Now?:
This is a fun book. I enjoyed reading about the different ways people have succeeded with marine aquaria. We can learn a lot from each other. I sure would love to have access to the 20,000 gallon system described in this book. I do have a couple of issues: 1. This is strictly an American book. Almost all of these tanks are in the USA. More tanks from other countries would have been interesting. 2. The info is rather old for a book just published in 2003. Much of the info is 3 years old or older and some of the tanks were quite young at the time. I'd love to learn how some of these tanks fared later. There was one small tank in particular that was ridiculously overstocked with fish that are not reef safe (most notably several triggers). It was only a few months old. I'll bet it has long since crashed.

Great idea but rotten photography:
It's wonderful to read about other successful systems. I enjoyed reading about the set-ups, what additives were used, the salt that was used. I also liked reading about what people liked and disliked about their own tanks. But the photography is awful. I mean, this is a picture book! Some of the photos are downright out of focus. I could take better photos with a throw away camera. My driver's license has better photography. I'm shocked that a book that is a "picture" book has such terrible photos. A lot of time must have been spent compiling all the information about everyone's tank, but no one took the time to send a professional photographer to take pictures. I often read this book to see what someone's set up is, but I never bother to look at it for the photos, which is a real shame, because saltwater tanks are a visual feast.

Wonderful:
This book is wonderful. A truely excellent book on how other people have created works of aquatic art. I thoroughly enjoy this book. Although some people complain about the pictures, I find that the photographs are good enough for the book. I take photographs myself, and one may fill several books with the possible photographs that one may take. The advise and the attention to details are truly amazing.

Must Have Reef Information:
This book is an excellent look at successful marine reef systems and the both similar and different approaches to keeping a successful reef aquarium. All the information that went into the 50 reef aquariums is there and priceless for both novice and expert alike to review. I look forward to future additions and want to thank the author for putting this book together. A MUST HAVE BOOK for all reef aquarium hobbyists.