Good deal or not to learn??

[CarlitosReef]

Some of you are aware I am new to the hobby and I been putting the time I can to keep learning what i need to know. I have already been advised about the great book to have called "The Reef Aquarium Vol 3" So I was lurking online and found this ad.


Dr. Burgess's Atlas of Marine Aquarium Fishes, third edition new----
The Complete Book of the Marine Aquarium,Vincent B. Hargrgreaves new----signed copy of Advanced Reef Keeping by Albert J. Thiel used good condition----The Marine Aquarium Handbook ,Beginner to Breeder,Martin A. Moe,Jr.,new edition,well used-----Corals for the Mini Reef Aquarium,DR. Hebert R. Axlerod,first class coral identification manual with true color photo plates,new-----Aquarium Corals,Eric H. Borneman a TFH publication, new-----The Concientious Marine Aquarist,Robert M. Fenner,a must have for any salty,two copies one new one used----Seashore Anamials of the Southeast,Edward E. Ruppert and Richard S. Fox,new----Marine Atlas #2 invertibrates,Erhardt-Moosleitner softcover,2 copies one new one used----Small Reef Aquarium Basics,Albert J. Thiel,used----Marine Fish [ the recoginition and treatment of diseases],Robert R. Clifton, used----Algae A Problem Solver Guide,Julian Sprung used----The Reef Tank Owner's Manual,John H. Tullock used-----The Seaside Naturalist,Debora A. Coulombe,used------$125 or best offer for all-----------------------------If you are seriously considering salt water fish or invertibrates these books are true money savers


Seems like is more than 3 or 5 books here for $125 OBO.

Should I take advantage of this deal or would i be better off just buying The Reef Aquarium Vol 3 itself???

[hollister]

Vol 3 , i dont think so. This is a hobby worth re-searching but not over re-searching.
A basic setup book and knowing what u want ( reef of fish ) before u start will be a great start , followed by a budget , from starting to monthly.

A large reef tank could cost 100 bucks monthly for electric alone.

My 75 gallon monthly cost is around 80 bucks including water changes.

[MA4446]

I dunno but if you read all those books I'm going to you for all my advice! Lol... cheers to your quest for knowledge.

[hollister]

Not all setups are equal. Like anything practice makes perfect. Go step by step ( Dont do to many things at once , like add new stock and increase flow , or adding to many new stock at once , or like adding more then one additive ).

If u change anything change by small amounts and check your water reading for changes before u change anything....

[neoalchemist74]

I'd buy both, I love reading about differant techniques and ideas and 125 o.bo. for all of those seems like a screamin deal, although some of them are out of date. Crap thats 13 books and some handy ones at that. If I knew where this deal was might snatch it from you. ;}

[CarlitosReef]

The reason I asked is because the Vol 3 itself is like 80 bucks itself. All these books are for $125 OBO basically giving mostly all of it for free. I do agree everyone set up is different, but no matter the set up every little thing matters in order to keep your investment from going down the drain. My set up is going to be Salt Water Reef Aquarium. I am not sure if i am saying it right remember i am new still learning. lol I want SW fishes and corals, live rocks, live sand. Obviously I am not some rich guy so once I got all my equipment running first. I would start by adding sand, one rock, and a fish. A couple of things baby steps. But if I come to a problem I want to be able to pull a book out and research real quick without having to read all of them.


There going to be times il sit down and pull a book out and read what I can.

[PFCDeitz]

Carlitosreef

Ive seen that Ad around for a long time..

Check out AtlantaReefClub.com Its a Local Forum for us Ga

[CarlitosReef]

Originally Posted by PFCDeitz

Carlitosreef

Ive seen that Ad around for a long time..

Check out AtlantaReefClub.com Its a Local Forum for us Ga

Thanks I'm checking it out just now!

"You can help create your own luck, you can make things happen through hard work and intelligence."- Donald J. Trump

[peppie]

IMO I can get all the information I need to have a thriving reef tank right here at RC. And more times than not The information is in laymens (sp) terms. I dont understand half of what the Dr's are saying in the books.
Just my two cents worth

[Stomkat]

I would check dates. New things are learned all the time, and if it's more than 4 years old it's useless.

[Mike P]

Books are great, however, hands on experience is key (in anything).

I commend you on wanting to learn! Set up a tank, books or not, you will get it.

Start small unless you have the income.

The bigger the tank the more you can do, and the more time you have to correct mistakes.

[freetareef]

Hi and welcome!!!
I don't think you can get to much knowledge about this hobby, i think amazon has some of the same titles for less tho.

[ManotheSea]

ReefCentral-is-your-essential-source.The-wealth-of-hands-on-experience-that-can-be-gained-from-RC-Members-is-invaluable.Its-also-custom-tailored-to-your-individual-questions-and-responses.No-book-can-offer-that.

[Gary Majchrzak]

purchase a copy of TRA vol #3 by Sprung/Delbeek.

I would consider this book an essential book for any reefkeepers library.

[sjwitt]

Well I think you'll find that a lot of information will be repeated between these books. I counted 10 titles in there so that's 12.50 each... not too shabby. I have a couple of these books.

The Concientious Marine Aquarist, Robert M. Fenner, great reference.
Algae A Problem Solver Guide, Julian Sprung, it's okay.

But there is nothing in these books that you can't get on the internet for free so its all about what you prefer. I you want the 'tactile' experience of flipping pages then go for it.

[albano]

Originally Posted by neoalchemist74

Crap thats 13 books and some handy ones at that. If I knew where this deal was might snatch it from you. ;}

Originally Posted by sjwitt

I counted 10 titles in there so that's 12.50 each...

I don't have a life, so I counted (and recounted) 16 books ( 14 different, 2 duplicates)

[Gary Majchrzak]

Originally Posted by Stomkat

I would check dates. New things are learned all the time, and if it's more than 4 years old it's useless.

[Angel*Fish]

Books, books and more books are very valuable. They give you a deeper understanding that allows you to answer many of your own questions.

[CarlitosReef]

Still thinking about it, a member here mentioned he has seen the ad as well for a while. I also take in consideration whatever is in those books could be picked up here too it just might take longer.

"You can help create your own luck, you can make things happen through hard work and intelligence."- Donald J. Trump

[dzfish17]

I agree with Marie, even if some of the material is outdated it will still give you insight into how things have changed over the yrs. Well, Im gonna embarrass myself and say its always good reading material when youre on the toilet.

[lordofthereef]

If you are the type of person that will sit down and read it, by all means, buy anything and everything you will read. I run into too many people that have $100's in books and they just end up sitting on the shelf (and they admit to having essentially slapped it right on the shelf after skimming the pretty pictures - in fact it is likely that the guy who is elling the lot did this very thing). Unless there is a way to read through osmosis that I am unaware of, buying a book to weigh down your bookshelf is just tossing money down the drain in terms of gaining knowledge for this hobby.