Reading is knowledge - You read what?

[vetteguy53081]

For at least 50 years, there have been various books, encyclopedias and guides on Marine fish keeping. Im sure many if not all of us have seen or read a book that either gave us answers, knowledge or inspiration.

What is that one book(s) that have been inspiring, or even became a Favorite and why ?

for me: Dr. Burgess atlas and Mini atlas of Reef aquarium. Many text in the Atlas still apply today

Also this :

 

[Tcook]

The Reef Aquarium series by Sprung and Delbeek as well as Martin Moe’s book. Those were the first. Also Scott Michael’s series and though many may not like him anymore, Borneman’s book.

 

[j.falk]

The book that got me into saltwater aquariums. The Holy Bible of reefkeeping.

 

[vetteguy53081]

The book that got me into saltwater aquariums. The Holy Bible of reefkeeping.

I clearly remember this book and a Good one !

 

[o2manyfish]

I think the most impressive marine book is the triple set of Veron's Encyclopedia of Corals - The immense undertaking to create and publish that series is just mindboggling.

And then getting the opportunity at a Marine Conference to sit with Veron himself, while sharing a few cocktails, and discussing the topic of corals.

The books I read as a child, (70s-80's) with the pictures of the beautiful marine fish, are what definitely hooked me into the hobby and diving.

In the early 2000's there was a popular Marine author. Who published one book and then made a living touring the country to discuss his book. And once again I got the opportunity to have cocktails (he didn't drink) and discuss the hobby and through our conversation into the wee hours I discovered that this 'noted' author on coral keeping and husbandry had in fact not kept a marine tank. Plently of experience breeding freshwater fish in a basement, but never had his own marine tank.

There is another pioneer in coral propagtion, who had several books published. People praised him as such an expert to have published multiple books. In fact his publisher was his desktop computer sitting next to the cot he lived on, while living in an industrial complex unit, and was binding the books one at a time on the back of a toilet. Now to his credit - for his era he was a pioneer. But some of his 'theories' in coral keeping only worked for him and couldn't be duplicated. But he did accomplish some great things in the hobby.

Dave B

 

[Opus]

I think the most impressive marine book is the triple set of Veron's Encyclopedia of Corals - The immense undertaking to create and publish that series is just mindboggling.

And then getting the opportunity at a Marine Conference to sit with Veron himself, while sharing a few cocktails, and discussing the topic of corals.

The books I read as a child, (70s-80's) with the pictures of the beautiful marine fish, are what definitely hooked me into the hobby and diving.

In the early 2000's there was a popular Marine author. Who published one book and then made a living touring the country to discuss his book. And once again I got the opportunity to have cocktails (he didn't drink) and discuss the hobby and through our conversation into the wee hours I discovered that this 'noted' author on coral keeping and husbandry had in fact not kept a marine tank. Plently of experience breeding freshwater fish in a basement, but never had his own marine tank.

There is another pioneer in coral propagtion, who had several books published. People praised him as such an expert to have published multiple books. In fact his publisher was his desktop computer sitting next to the cot he lived on, while living in an industrial complex unit, and was binding the books one at a time on the back of a toilet. Now to his credit - for his era he was a pioneer. But some of his 'theories' in coral keeping only worked for him and couldn't be duplicated. But he did accomplish some great things in the hobby.

Dave B

I would love to get my hands on the Vernon books but can't bring myself to spend over $500 for a set of used books. I do have his Corals of Australia and Indo book.

One of my all time favorites were the Peter Wilkens books from Germany.

 

[lilzbra]

I was going to start a thread like this, but saw you already had one going. I started reefing in the early 1980's so all we had to learn from were books and the knowledge of the LFS. Some of the classics that I used to read constantly as a reefing nerd kid!

Still all in my possession today. However, these books are the ones that really helped me get to the next level as a young adult:

Props to Anthony Calfo, he is a reefing legend in my book!

 

[PhishMonger84]

I have the Scott Michael books for salt

For freshwater i have some very cool hardcovers on Pims, Central american cichlids, doradids and bichirs.

 

[lilzbra]

I have the Scott Michael books for salt

For freshwater i have some very cool hardcovers on Pims, Central american cichlids, doradids and bichirs.

I have a great book on Malawi Cichlids from the early 1980's. Tons of great FW books from back in the day!