There are tons of saltwater aquarium books to choose from out there. But the first book I’ve ever read was borrowed from a friend. It was merely because I wasn’t really interested in keeping and maintaining a saltwater aquarium at first.
So why buy my own book?
After reading it, I was intimidated by how complex and at the same time how exciting keeping a saltwater aquarium is.
After learning about the basic, I started buying my own saltwater aquarium book at my local bookstore. I noticed that I kept coming back for more books with great detailed information and colorful pictures!
Here are the best books I’ve read so far about keeping and maintaining saltwater aquariums:
[amazon link=”1890087475″ title=”Aquarium Corals”]
Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History
by Eric H. Borneman
This is a fantastic book for both the beginner and advanced marine reef aquarist, or really anyone who is interested in coral – an organism that devotes 90% of its body to having a mouth. This book details common and uncommon aquarium corals, diseases, infestations, and in many cases gives a short history of the life of coral in the aquarium hobby. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is thinking of growing corals or has some already, even if you’re advanced enough to frag your own corals without hesitation this book will offer you some insight or knowledge.
The pages are thick and heavyweight, the colors are bright and vivid which is invaluable when dealing with something as diverse as coral. It is easy to read, broken into understandable segments and uses plain language to help out the beginner.
This is THE guide you need for keeping a coral reef aquarium.
[amazon box=”1890087475″ style=”standard” tracking_id=”saltwateraquarium-test-a-20″][amazon box=”1883693098″ template=”list”]
[amazon link=”1890087521″]
Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide
By: Michael S. Paletta
This is an excellent beginner book.
The first half has great details on setting up a fish-only tank from start to finish. The second half is about selecting fish and taking care of them.
I personally believe that this is clearly above the most of the other current saltwater aquarium books available.
A must-have book for any hobbyist. Full of need-to-know information to learn about fish before you buy them, or that you may already have in your aquarium.
[amazon box=”1890087521″ style=”standard” tracking_id=”saltwateraquarium-test-a-20″]
[amazon link=”B00SB4NL30″ title=”Natural Reef Aquariums”]
Simplified Approaches to Creating Living Saltwater Microcosms
By: John H. Tullock
There are many aquarium books out there that seemed to target kids who only need pictures with no explanations of what’s going on.
There are also a few that are totally opposite that.
This is a perfect medium! In between those two others I have mentioned.
This book has a very informative content but is written in clear writing. It is a fun read and a good example of what other books should be.
[amazon box=”B00SB4NL30″ style=”standard” tracking_id=”saltwateraquarium-test-a-20″][amazon box=”1883693144″ template=”list”]
[amazon link=”1890087386″ title=”A Pocket Expert Guide to Marine Fishes”]
500+ Essential-To-Know Aquarium Species
By: Scott W. Micheal
Pages and pages of colorful pictures of 500+ fishes. I would suggest going thru this book page by page.
Get ideas of what fish you may like and its aquarium suitability. Heck, you can even bring it with you on your next fish purchase!
I highly recommend this book to any reefkeeper to have in your aquarium book collection. This is another book that is an excellent choice for beginner aquarist.
[amazon box=”1890087386″ style=”standard” tracking_id=”saltwateraquarium-test-a-20″]
[amazon link=”B00KONPTS6″ title=”Ultimate Secrets to Saltwater Aquarium Fish and Invertebrates”]
By: Andrej Brummer
Saltwater aquariums can be complicated and mistakes with your marine life are often rather expensive. Up to 90% of new saltwater tank owners don’t last 2 years in the hobby because they simply don’t know enough about their marine life and what their pets require to thrive.
Ultimate Secrets to Saltwater Aquarium Fish and Invertebrates has been written focusing on the marine life itself and what they need from you to live long happy lives. This book combines the pure science of marine biology and captive marine life keeping with an easy to understand and implement format.
A truly outstanding read for anyone who has or is considering a marine tank. Clear, concise and very informative covering everything from the basic setup of a quarantine tank to managing a delicate reef tank and everything in between. Well worth the price.
[amazon box=”B00KONPTS6″ style=”standard” tracking_id=”saltwateraquarium-test-a-20″]
Other Good Options
[amazon box=”3928819224,0470068051,1499203160,1539048764,0764160230,1890087661,1890087998″ template=”list”]