The Reef Aquarium Volume 3 is finally out.

[Markv]

I've been waiting 5 years for this book! And now, it will be in my precious hands on Thursday. Anyone else had one pre-ordered?

Charles chimed in about the book here:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=718450

[Markv]

I guess I'm the only one excited about this book. Have any of you read volume 1/2? They, along with the Fossa books, are my reefing bibles.

[mojo]

Thanks fantastic! Volumes 1/2 were a reference text for me since they came out years ago- I remember having a pre-order on Vol 1 for months before it came out.

Do you know what new information Vol 3 holds?

[mojo]

Nevermind, Delbeek posted the table of contents of Vol 3 on that same thread:

Here is the table of contents for volume 3:

Table of Contents

Chapter One The Basics of Aquarium Selection and Design

The Aquarium
Preparing the Aquarium
The Overflow
The Sump
Aquarium Location
Physical Considerations
Biological Considerations

Chapter Two Common Elements

Water
Live Rock
The Bottom Material

Chapter Three Plumbing and Electrical

Plumbing considerations
Piping and Tubing
Fittings
Valves
Pump Selection
Planning the Design
Testing the System
Electrical Do’s, Don’ts and Considerations

Chapter Four Physical and Chemical Parameters of Reef Aquarium Water

Temperature
Gas Exchange
Specific Gravity
Salinity
Electrical Conductivity
pH
Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium
Ammonium and Nitrite
Nitrate
Phosphate
Trace and Minor Elements
Vitamins
Redox
Dissolve Organic Matter
Turbidity

Chapter Five Calcium, Alkalinity and pH Maintenance

Where does all the Calcium Carbonate Go?
Calcium
Alkalinity
How to Supplement Calcium and Alkalinity
Methods Used for Raising the Calcium and Alkalinity Levels in an Aquarium
Other Calcium and Alkalinity Sources
Solving Calcium, Alkalinity and pH Problems

Chapter Six Filtration

Mechanical Filtration
Biological Filtration
Fluid Mechanics and Biological Filtration
Nitrifying Filters
Denitrifying Filters
Substrate Filtration Principles
Refugia
Plankton Reactors
Chemical Filtration
Protein Skimming
Natural Systems –
Eng’s Natural System
Jaubert’s Monaco System
Deep Sand Bed (DSB) Filtration
Berlin Method
Algal Turf Scrubbers (ATS) and Microcosm Management
The Ecosystem Aquarium® Method a.k.a. the Miracle Mud® Filter
Cryptic Sponge/tunicate Filtration
Final Thoughts

Chapter Seven Water Motion

Types of Water Motion
Affects of Water Motion
Water Motion and Coral Placement
Options for Aquariums
Wave-makers, Rotating Returns and Current Switchers
Surge Generators
Tidal Systems

Chapter Eight Lighting

Orientation of Marinelife
Skylight versus Sunlight
Total Light Received by the Aquarium
Ultraviolet (UV) Light
Lighting Parameters
Types of Lighting Systems
Reflector Types
Ballasts
Lamp Types
New Trends in Aquarium Lighting
Coral Colour/fluorescence
Response of Coral to Artificial Lighting

Chapter Nine Aquascaping

Design Considerations
Use of Aquarium Backgrounds
Hiding Equipment
Model Building
Live Rock
Other Options - Alternatives to Live Rock
Materials that Facilitate Reef Construction
Using Sand Beds for Aesthetic Purposes

Chapter Ten Foods and Feeding

Fish Foods
Invertebrate Foods and Feeding
Feeding Challenges

Chapter Eleven Maintenance, Husbandry and Disease Issues

Keeping a Log
Controllers and automated systems
Maintaining Calcium Reactors
Lighting Maintenance
Tank Maintenance
Plumbing Maintenance
Pump Maintenance
Changing Activated Carbon and Other Media
Cleaning the Protein Skimmer
Cleanup Crews
Coral Harvest/Pruning
Old Tank Syndrome
Disease and parasites
Future Disease Treatment Options
Designer Corals
What’s Next? Reef Aquarium Maintenance in the Future

Bibliography

Index

[MyReef]

I have been waiting on it for years as well... FINALLY!

[46bfinga]

is there anything that book doesnt have.looks like a good book to pick up.

[Markv]

There we go! Glad you guys are as excited as me.

I'm particularly interested in their thoughts on Old Tank Syndrome. They have apparently changed their opinion of Turf Scrubbers as well, since the methodology has improved. "Skylight versus Sunlight" sounds awesome too. And Julian and Charles certainly could both teach us a lot on creative aquascaping and design. I heard there is a section of seagrasses as well. I hope that us true, since I just started a seagrass tank.

Just to vent a little...I always think it's funny people spend $100's of dollars on fish and corals, but balk at purchasing a $80 book. I think that's why you can meet a bunch of hobbyist who know they need to keep they Calcium/Alk at certain levels, but at the same time not understand how something like biomineralization works. Or why certain wavelengths are photosynthetically usable or why certain others are not. There's often huge knowledge gaps like that in this hobby.

[kwl1763]

I'm super pumped also. I preordered mine so should bget anytime now. Should be some good reading over the next few nights.

I'm really excited (and have been since I discussed at MACNA 2 years ago with them) that it's including electrical, plumbing, etc, etc. info. So important yet never covered in the books!

[bob30329]

Ordered mine today from Premium aquatics - $83 incl shipping.

[Melissa]

Cryptic Sponge/tunicate Filtration

This is something I have been wanting to get more into. I've heard that Tyree uses this method of filtration almost exclusively. Whether that's true - I don't know, but...very interesting regardless...

Looks like an awesome book!

[Markv]

That's correct, that method was popularized by Tyree. I'm a little skeptical of Tyree's method though. The liverock, corals, and water changes alone probably do more for nutrient removal than the sponges and tunicates. We'll have to see what Julian and Delbeek think I guess.

kwl,
If you pre-ordered through Premium, you should receive it this week. I got an email confirmation that mine had shipped and should arrive tomorrow. Props to them for that. They offered free shipping to those who preordered, then even shipped it UPS second-day air!

[emau]

sounds like a good book. i understand your point, but how many people read the owners manuel of their $30,000 car? but then again a car is not a living thing...
peace
e

[Stevhan]

Originally Posted by Markv

Just to vent a little...I always think it's funny people spend $100's of dollars on fish and corals, but balk at purchasing a $80 book. I think that's why you can meet a bunch of hobbyist who know they need to keep they Calcium/Alk at certain levels, but at the same time not understand how something like biomineralization works. Or why certain wavelengths are photosynthetically usable or why certain others are not. There's often huge knowledge gaps like that in this hobby.

Ive been working at fish stores for 7 years and have been wondering the same thing myself. Some people dont even want to buy a $25 book.....but they'll complain to me why theyre fish died...this came from a lady with a tank who put 2 tsp of salt in her tank and argued it was a saltwater aquarium. Usually the box that said freshwater aquarium salt would give it away but some people ya know.

[Stevhan]

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...dproduct=BKRA3

$66.99 with shipping

[MyReef]

I should have mine tomorrow.. I ordered it last week.