The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists (Microcosm/T.F.H. Professional)

A bestseller since it first published in 1998, The Conscientious Marine Aquarist is one of the best-respected, time-tested, hands-on marine aquarium books ever published.

Now completely updated from cover to cover with brand new text, a fresh design, and updated photography, The Conscientious Marine Aquarist is the essential book for all new, intermediate, and serious marine aquarium keepersin a must-have new edition. This indispensable guide spotlights scientific research performed by leading authorities that deals with various aspects of biology, ecology, systematics, and conservation. This wealth of information couples with captive-care techniques of nationally recognized aquarists and fascinating, never-before-seen photos.

For hands-on marine aquarists of any experience level who seek a comprehensive and up-to-date resource that helps ensure success in the hobby, The Conscientious Marine Aquarist is the best book available.

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.
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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]


Buy This One Next!   May 4, 2003
 47 out of 52 found this review helpful

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.


Excellent book for beginner and expert alike!   September 29, 1999
 16 out of 17 found this review helpful

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.


Excelent Book   February 3, 2001
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

Here is an excellent book for beginning or advanced hobbyists alike. If you need information on tank setup, filtration, lighting, or reef fish information this is a must have for the reef hobbyists library. There is information about tank sizes, the various system components needed for success, heating and cooling, Wet/Dry filters, UGF, lighting types and spectrum, various additives, substrate, live rock and too much more to list in this text. Very detailed descriptions about fish and inverts including origin, habitat, selection, feeding, reproduction, and disease. There is even a section on fish to avoid. All of the information and incredible pictures in this book will make you come back to it for years to come.


Beautfiul thriving marine aquarium within your reach!   October 19, 2005
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

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?