Reef Invertebrates- An Essential Guide to Selection- Care and Compatibilty Description:

Reef Invertebrates: An Essential Guide to Selection, Care and Compatibilty review:
5 stars (Great overall book) - Don't let the title fool you, there is quite a bit more information in here other than just that on reef invertibrates. This book, along with my Borneman book Aquarium Corals are the two best in my library and I highly recommend them to every newbie (and experienced reefkeeper) I come across. The only issue that I had is that the binding is not that good and the pages are coming loose. I've thought about hole punching it and putting in a notebook as I refer back to this book often.
4 stars (Good General Guide / Not Shopping Guide) - This is a wonderful book covering most invertebrates. I'll mention that there are no anemones, as that seems to be a purchasing reason for many - maybe that will be part of a future volume on Cnidaria. It goes over groups and give some specifics on particular species. I use it regularly to consult, but be prepared to read through and understand groups of animals as a whole. For example, you might not find that specific sponge at the store to know if it is photosynthetic or not, but you can read about sponges of all types in detail and understand whether or not you should try sponges yet.



There is a nice section on refugiums if you are getting interested, that is more complete than any other book I own.
5 stars (Comprehensive, Complete, Easy to Read) - I'm new to coral reef keeping - and have been voraciously reading a dozen+ books on all aspects of reef husbandry. Calfo and Fenner's book on Reef Invertebrates is both a beautiful pictorial of reefs and invertebrates and is a very comprehensive guide to reef keeping water husbandry.



I was surprised and amazed at the thorough and complete description of approaches to the essential aspects of reef husbandry. After an introductory section on water quality, additives, tank sizing there is the very best reference I've found on the potential goals and approaches to refugiums. This leads into a beautifully photographic essay on macro and micro algae - giving clear advice on balancing the choices of species.



I was completely engrossed in this so clearly written treatise on tank water quality approaches that I was surprised that the first detailed discussion of "invertebrates" was the better part of a 1/3 into the book!



The rest of the book is largely based on the various genuses of invertebrates that you could consider having in your tank. Again, complete and comprehensive, and especially clear on what will leave your corals alone and what will feast on them, what eats what, water quality requirements by species, diet requirements by species, etc. For almost every family there is a picture. For every species pictured there is at least a small paragraph near the picture describing the husbandry required to have the invertebrate thrive...and often the better part of a chapter when there are a number of varieties of approaches or animals.



This is the best reef book in my library.