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5 Comments on “The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists”

1. Lorenzo F. Gonzalez
   May 26th, 2010 at 9:00 pm

   This is far and away the best book about hobbyist fishkeeping I have EVER read – that includes everything for freshwater, as well. Probably little here for the very experienced marine aquarist, but for the beginner, there is NO BETTER BOOK. It’s worth every penny I spent on it. The author even points out silly errors and terrible misinformation present in OTHER books I also own! It is the ultimate reference, with enough information to take the complete newbie from a simple fish-only setup to a reasonably advanced reef system, avoiding the many, MANY possible pitfalls in between, from equipment and feeding, to which fish will eat your invertebrates (and vice-versa). Highly opinionated, and incredibly experienced, the author also demonstrates a rare talent in this typically dry genre: His prose is actually FUN to read, and his points are highly memorable because of it.

   I might repeat the cliche’ “If you read only one book about marine fishkeeping…” But the fact is, until you get to really exotic reefs and invertebrates, you only NEED to read one book – This one.
   —————
   The above review was written quite some time ago, and I’m making this addendum because I now have a relationship with Mr. Fenner (I work on his website(s)) and I think it’s important to disclose that – also because Amazon finally added this ‘edit’ feature! Also important though, I now believe that “The New Marine Aquarium” by Michael Paletta is possibly a better beginner’s book. I still think Bob’s CMA (as it is called by insiders) is the “One Book”. But if you plan on having -more- than one, and you’re looking for your first, you might check out Paletta’s, it’s a shade easier to digest than the all-powerful CMA. [grin]
   Rating: 5 / 5

2. Too Cold in Madison
   May 26th, 2010 at 9:39 pm

   Thinking of getting into the saltwater aquarium hobby? Do not buy anything until you have read this book cover to cover! You will be sorry if you don’t. By applying the principles in this book, you will have much greater success at the venture. You will save a lot of money and spare the lives of many fish.

   But first, buy and read The New Marine Aquarium by Michael S. Paletta. It’s a great starting point. Then read this one and give this great hobby a go.

   Being a marine aquarist is a great responsibility. Most marine aquarium fish are wild-caught. We have a responsibility to choose only those can thrive in captivity and are not endangered. Beyond that, we have an obligation to properly care for the animals we have assumed stewarship for. This book makes that clear and it will welp you achieve this.
   Rating: 5 / 5

3. Anonymous
   May 27th, 2010 at 12:17 am

   I had already been in the reef aquarium hobby for a year when I picked up this book. Most of the information I had already heard about, but alot of it was either new to me or covered in a new way. This book will give the straight talk about which fish and animals are “best” for the aquarium, and the author is not afraid to say what is wrong with keeping certain type of fish. A must for beginners, a decent refernce for all other aquarium keepers.
   Rating: 5 / 5

4. croll
   May 27th, 2010 at 1:56 am

   Written by one of the foremost experts in the hobby, this is an essential book for beginner and intermediate marine aquarists. It covers the fundamentals of setting up, stocking and successfully maintaining a saltwater aquarium and does so in a common sense, easy to understand fashion. It is an approachable and well-written primer on the topic and is the best way to get started.

   However, the book was written in 1999 and is now 8 years old. Remarkably, that means it is already out-dated given the rapidly evolving state of technology in this hobby. The author, Bob Fenner, frequently provides advice and suggestions to aquarists on an internet website and much of the information in his book is qualified or revised the advice he provides now. For example, he highly recommends that macroalgae calupera in this book but, while still recommending it some setups, cautions people today that this algae is not right for all setups due to a tendancy to take over tanks. Some of the modern trends in saltwater aquariums are also not covered in enough depth — simply because they weren’t a trend eight years ago.

   Accordingly, this is a GREAT book to read as you begin your research on setting up a saltwater aquarium. Not only is it a first read, but it is a valuable resource that you will continue to turn to before, during and after setting up your aquarium because it is filled with useful advice. However, it is also advice that should be complimented by additional research with more up-to-date materials.

   If Bob is reading this, I’d just like to say this: This book is incredible and I can’t thank you enough for writing it. If you have the time, please consider writing a Second Edition — the hobby would benefit from such an endeavor tremendously. Thanks!
   Rating: 4 / 5

5. Winston Koh
   May 27th, 2010 at 2:48 am

   Thinking of starting your own marine aquarium? This beautiful guidebook is your best ally towards combating the whole array of problems that you may encounter when you got started with the hobby. The author did a very commendable job in recommeding marine species that are easy to keep and caught in a humane manner. There are plenty of marine fish out there in the local aquarium shop that are cynaide-collected and have a low survival rate since they either have special eating habits or need a HUGE space to survive and thrive. In this book, the author will cover most of the marine fish that you will likely encounter and learn to avoid those impossible to keep species.

   The author, like an experienced teacher will guide you thru the entire process from selecting the right aquarium shape/size, equipments, liverock/livesand, down to the actual livestock. As they say in the marine hobby, nothing good ever comes fast. So the key to success in marine fish-keeping besides knowledge is patience. Having seen the gorgeous saltwater aquariums on display, please don’t rush out and buy the equipments and setting it up in one day and thinking it as a “weekend project”. It is defintiely a long and laborious process involving lots of readings and research, practicing what we have learnt from this excellent book, but the results are extremely rewarding.

   What could be better than keeping a piece of the ocean right in your living room?
   Rating: 5 / 5

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