The Marine Aquarium Handbook: Beginner to Breeder by Martin A. Moe Jr. isbn: 0939960079 318 pages, Paperback Publication date: 1992-04 Publisher: Green Turtle Publications Buy this @amazon.com List price: $16.95(USD)

Editorial review

A practical handbook on the theory and methods of keeping and breeding marine tropical fish. This updated and expanded edition describes the basic types of marine aquarium systems, with an emphasis on the traditional under gravel filter. Tank construction and selection, saltwater collection and makeup, filters and filtration, physics and chemistry, setup and maintenance, disease and treatment, foods and feeding, captive breeding Everything you need to know to set up and maintain a successful saltwater aquarium.

Customer reviews from amazon.com

Solid material, a little dated

"This is an excellent book to use as background and reference for marine aquarium keeping. There are other books that cover species identification, and I would not buy this book for that purpose. You need this book to understand the principles of filtration systems, recognition and treatment of disease and all of the underlying knowledge that will allow you to be successful in maintaining a marine aquarium. It is in need of revision to cover more recent advances in reefkeeping, though."

A nearly complete book

"Moe covers most of the parts of setting up a first-time marine aquarium with aplomb and humor (his troubleshooting section includes "water pooling around tank" and "cookie floating in tank"). The only drawbacks to this book are a lack of illustrations and there is no real species profile to speak of. Since many, if not most, people start with an idea of what kind of fish they want to keep and work (backwards?) from there, a section would be helpful. But the information in the book will complement a species-focused book quite nicely."

Great beginners book, wonderful advice

"This book helped me setup my first marine aquarium. The advice on setup, run up and maintenance is well written and interjected with great wit every once in a while. It is packed with very useful information. The book is very close to a perfect marine starter manual. It's only flaws lack of some graphics (such as the disease section) and in organization. That is the only reason I did not give the book a five star rating. These minor flaws are easily overlooked and overshadowed by the wealth of the book. If you are a first time marine aquarianist (as am I) this is a well-written, excellent book to start with. If you have been in the hobby for a while, it is an excellent reference."

Great book with good diagnosis charts for fish diseases.

"I referred to Moe's book to confirm that my fish had Black Ich (my first experience with a fish disease). The book stated clearly the proper treatment,and I even carried the book into the fish store to confirm what needed to be done. I'm happy to say, fish are now Ichless. This is the kind of book you would want to have nearby, so diagnosis and treatment can happen quickly."