This is a beautiful guide to more than 200 species of corals that are available to the reef hobbyist. For the first time ever, corals can now be correctly identified by a standardized common name, and of course all specimens are cross referenced with scientific names.This book contains 112 pages, including color photographs of corals as they appear in aquariums throughout the country -- over 300 magnificent pictures, including close-ups, detail shots, and identification tips. There are easy to follow charts on lighting and water flow requirements, aggressiveness, and difficulty of care. Each specimen has a written description, individual care requirements, identification clues, environmental notes, and much more. This is an outstanding book for the serious reef hobbyist or nature lover interested in learning more about these beautiful and endangered creatures. -- A must have addition to every reef aquarists' library, -- Aquarium Fish Magazine -- Outstanding Photography...a truly beautiful book, -- Marine Fish Monthly -- A beautiful coffee table book for anyone who has ever dreamed of visiting a tropical coral reef -- This is the first book to identify corals by standardized common names. It is quickly becoming an important reference guide the world ever.

The number of corals imported into the U.S. rose 249 percent between 1995 and 1996, an indication the coral reef hobby is booming. Concerned hobbyists have begun growing corals domestically so that people can enjoy reef tanks without destroying natural reefs. This book combines information on setting up and maintaining a reef, as well as ecological concerns.

Keeping live corals has been likened to "bonsai for the cousteau generation" and "the ultimate underwater gardening experience." Beautiful, bizarre, and among nature's most colorful creations, living corals are now being successfully kept and grown in tens of thousands of home saltwater aquariums. For the first time, master aquarist Eric Borneman offers an authoritative, comprehensive, and fully illustrated guide to appropriate aquarium species, including a diversity of soft corals, as well as popular and rare large-polyp and small-polyp stony corals. World-class photographs and text reviewed by leading coral biologists and coral keepers guides the reader through the selection and husbandry of hundreds of species.

(back cover) This book focuses on developing a system using natural rock and sand as the foundation for a sustainable reef aquarium. Detailed step-by-step guidance throughout. Features more than 400 photos and illustrations.

Demystifies aquarium setup and maintenance Combine and care for a wide variety of marine fish and invertebrates Dive into the colorful world of saltwater fish! This fun, friendly guide gives you easy step-by-step instructions for choosing and caring for these amazing animals. You get the latest on feeding, tank upkeep, filtering systems, maintaining live rock, and preventing algae build-up, as well as what not to include in your aquarium. Discover how to Choose the best fish and equipment Get your tank up and running Maintain proper water conditions Keep your fish happy and healthy Avoid tank pitfalls Keep a brackish aquarium

"Anyone fascinated by the underwater world will be riveted by the photos in this richly illustrated guide... Readers can lose themselves in the magnificent environment beneath the sea...." --Publishers Weekly on the first edition of Reef Life The lure of the life that inhabits the ocean's reefs and open waters is no secret to scuba enthusiasts and snorkelers who enjoy gazing upon this wonderful world through their dive masks. This practical and comprehensive guidebook for divers, naturalists and ocean lovers identifies the most commonly encountered animals and other organisms in the tropical marine environment and identifies them in more than 1,000 beautiful color photographs to provide a window into this magnificent world. This updated edition features new photos, 33 new species profiles and an extended chapter about the state of the ocean and reefs on our rapidly changing planet. Reef Life is a handy, portable and comprehensive reference in a time when understanding and appreciating the diversity of our tropical oceans is at a critical point. A gallery of over 425 ray-finned fish species, as well as elasmobranchs (sharks, rays and skates), invertebrates, marine reptiles and marine mammals, offers readers an extensive identification guide to the most commonly seen marine species, with detailed descriptions of size, habitat, range and behavior. The book also includes: A guide to tropical marine ecosystems; Surveys of global coral reef communities, from the Caribbean to the Red Sea; A discussion about factors threatening marine ecosystems today. This is an essential selection for marine science and travel/tourism collections, scuba divers and snorkelers, and retailers and libraries in oceanside locations.