Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

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 keepers—in 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.

Average Customer Rating:

One of the BEST books I've bought!

Customer Rating:

I have spent many hours reading about the marine aquarium, I've just had one for about 3 years now. If I'd of had this book when I started I may not have lost some fish during that first year. I bought the new updated version and I must say I haven't really seen much difference in this volume then the first one I have spent many hours reading. I will probably set this one aside and keep it, my old one was in paperback version and you can tell it's been read a lot!

Great book!

Customer Rating:

This is a great book, top-notch quality both on the text, pictures, quality of the paper used and information provided. In my opinion just one thing could make this book even better: a better organization/rating system for the fishes/invertebrates covered. The author put a lot of text for each fish/invertabrate without a simple to read classification on wheter a beginner like myself should buy or not that particular animal. For that I am using the excellent The Complete Book of the Marine Aquarium [Hardcover] By Vincent B. Hargreaves, which provides a rating from 1 thru 5 on each animal depending on the complexity of keeping it on a fish tank.

An outstanding library reference

Customer Rating:

Robert M. Fenner's THE CONSCIENTIOUS MARINE AQUARIST is an outstanding library reference. Revised and updated in a second edition, it provides saltwater hobbyists with a wealth of detail on keeping a successful saltwater aquarium. Chapters cover, in detail, everything from water health and saltwater species biology to discussions of setup options, maintenance, and more. Color photos abound and the information is detailed, not cursory. A top pick any saltwater hobbyist - and collections catering to them - must have.

Must read for aquarium owners	Customer Rating:
This is a very informative book for anyone who is starting up a new saltwater aquarium. The illustrations are great. It covers a lot of depth and provides practical tips to setting up and maintaining an aquarium.

A good foundation.

Customer Rating:

I have been keeping a marine tank for less than 1 year. I got tired of just using the internet for all my knowledge-base of marine aquariums; spending many hours digging through all the forums for whatever current problem/issue i had, reading so many conflicting opinions and answers from 'experts', and often ending up at least as confused as when i began. So I bought this book, read it, and feel much better equipped for the hobby. I still refer heavily to internet sources for more granular knowledge, but at least I now have a solid, reliable source for a foundation on which to build. This book gave me more confidence, and left me eager to learn and do more in this hobby. It is beautifully illustrated, well composed, and the author conveys his own passion of the hobby and eagerness to educate responsible marine hobbyists.