Rating: 
Summary: Great overview of saltwater hobby.
Review: Do yourself a favor. Reference more than one book before seriously beginning a saltwater hobby. Much of what you will read is a mix of fact and opinion given by someone who has done more experimenting than you. Take heed to what they say, but don't hold it to be the gospel truth.
This book makes a great counterpart to "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist". They clarify each other. I do feel the need to warn you that they are higher level reading, but they are well worth the effort. Both of these books cover broad subjects. This is perfect for the beginner.
Rating: 
Summary: BAIT AND SWITCH
Review: I bought this book with great anticipation after having read Tullock's "First Marine Aquarium" published by Barrons. This "Natural Reef Aquarium" was a huge disappointment, and I liken the experience to having a student write a 5 page paper for an "A" and then expanding the same topic to a 20 page paper for a "C". This book rambles and meanders with far less focus and precision than Tullock's "First Marine" book. Gone are the useful charts and lists of different animals needs and compatibilities. ALso, he never seems to make a clear distinction between his own version of keeping an aquarium and that of the Berlin method developed by others. Tullock's "First Marine" book was inspirational, and was written with such conviction to really convey the radical departure of his methods. This book is full of filler, and major themes are tied together with the weakest of threads. My advice, buy the "First Marine" book, you'll get all the basic information and a lot more passion for the hobby.
Rating:
Summary: BAIT AND SWITCH
Review: I bought this book with great anticipation after having read Tullock's "First Marine Aquarium" published by Barrons. This "Natural Reef Aquarium" was a huge disappointment, and I liken the experience to having a student write a 5 page paper for an "A" and then expanding the same topic to a 20 page paper for a "C". This book rambles and meanders with far less focus and precision than Tullock's "First Marine" book. Gone are the useful charts and lists of different animals needs and compatibilities. ALso, he never seems to make a clear distinction between his own version of keeping an aquarium and that of the Berlin method developed by others. Tullock's "First Marine" book was inspirational, and was written with such conviction to really convey the radical departure of his methods. This book is full of filler, and major themes are tied together with the weakest of threads. My advice, buy the "First Marine" book, you'll get all the basic information and a lot more passion for the hobby.
Rating:
Summary: Full of detailed information
Review: I have several reef aquarium books and so far this is the best one. The systems for reef aquariums have changed over the past several years. The thing I like about this book is that it is really up-to-date and talks about the 3 different set-up techniques. There are lots of colorful pictures of everything from equipment, to fascinating corals and fish. You get the sense that the author is a real expert on the topic.
Rating:
Summary: Didn't think I could, but now I think I'll start a reef tank
Review: I've kept freshwater fish off and on for a while but I never considered keeping a reef tank. I thought it would take too much time to take care of, that it would be much too complicated to learn, or that it would cost too much money to start and maintain. But after reading this book, I'm hooked! Mr. Tullock spells out everything a beginning reef aquarist needs to know about reef tank setups with each setup's pros/cons. He shows the reader the necessary nutrient requirments, light levels, maintanance/troubleshooting, diseases, and water quality/makeup that most reef inhabitants need to not only stay healthy but thrive. He shows you what to look for when purchasing live rock, corals and fishes as well as what to avoid. There's a nice section on what different reefs from different oceans look like and what you need to do to mimick those microcosms in your tank. After reading this book, I now have the confidence to start a reef tank. I know what equipement I need and what sorts of creatures I can put together in the same tank. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has some freshwater aquarium experience and is on the fence about starting a reef tank. This book will push you over the fence and get you hooked for sure!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent step by step practical guide!
Review: John Tullock has written several books in plain English before. This one is elegant, clear, and concise with beautiful photography. He explains the basics for beginners and intermediate reef aquarists. He spells out exactly what equipment is needed, and what fish and invertebrates will and will not work. I have read the other books recommended here. They are all enjoyable. But Tullock writes the books that every marine aqaurium store should sell with each live coral display tank. After reading it, I bought a copy for my local Aquarium Society. No one will ever complain about this book. It is that good. I strongly recommend it. It is not too complex or obtuse. Only Julian Sprung writes books that are more technical and advanced (good for the ardent stony coral keeper). A delightful and informative book that will put any hobbyist on solid ground. He will tell you what works and what doesn't.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating read
Review: Many aquarium books seem to be targeted at 12 year old kids who need a picture to text ratio of at least 2 to 1 and no real explanations of what's going on. At the other end of the spectrum are a few written like graduate textbooks that are just too much effort to read for those of us who view aquariums as a relaxing hobby to enjoy. This book, in contrast, hits the perfect happy medium: the writing is only as technical as it needs to be to present salient information. It is a book with a very high information content, but the clarity of the writing makes it a fun read as well as a good example of what other aquarium books should be, but usually are not. I recommend it highly to any adult reader who is interested in marine aquaria.
Rating:
Summary: A great one.
Review: My wife is the reef keeper at our house. This book got great reviews here on Amazon and she didn't have a copy yet. She spent 3 hours and 45 minutes in her inital perusal of the book here on Christmas day. This means that it is probably a 6 star selection.
Rating:
Summary: A different kind of aquarium book
Review: The book is incredibly comprehensive on not only the technical aspects of mini-reef keeping, but also delves into the ecology of the coral reefs. While strictly speaking these ecological discussions are "off-topic", I found them to be extremely entertaining and they also helped me to understand more about the animals I am keeping. The grouping of various livestock into ecological zones is also unusual. I would have much preferred grouping animals of a similar class (i.e, butterflys, angels) into one section rather than spreading them over each ecological zone. As might be expected from the title of the book, the author is a strong proponent of the live rock system of reef keeping. The reader is asked to accept that minnimal intervention from the aquarist is the best method. Therefore, some of the more technical aspects of reefkeeping are not discussed in detail and the pros and cons of various technical gadgets such as UV sterilizers and ononers. By the absence of these discussions, I would then assume that the author is against the use of these devices , but I would have liked to hear his views on why they are not needed. The discussions on various necessary equipment such as skimmers, lighting, chemical additives, etc, while present, could have been more comprehensive. But all in all, this is a very excellent starter book on reef keeping. You definately can't go wrong buying it.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty book but misrepresented
Review: This book is a must have for anyone interested in starting a reef aquarium. It covers everything you need to know. One of the best books on the subject.
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