good reference book..?

gearhead · #1 05/17/2005, 09:30 PM

whats a good reference book for corals?

attml · #2 05/17/2005, 10:18 PM

"Corals of the World" by Vernon is one of the best I have seen!

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...COTW&ast=&key=

mikee68 · #3 05/17/2005, 10:20 PM

I have to agree, Corals of the world!!!

Detritivore · #4 05/17/2005, 11:43 PM

corals of the world

MiddletonMark · #5 05/18/2005, 05:18 AM

If we're talking about caring for the corals, I'd go for
[ericsbook]

Veron's books are interesting catalogs of corals, but don't deal with anything about captive care and IMO don't give me the specifics that have really led to me knowing how to care for things. Beautiful books, interesting ... no doubt.

JB NY · #6 05/18/2005, 08:34 AM

Coral of the World will not tell you anything about caring for your corals. It's more of an ID and picture book.

I'd go with Eric Borneman's book.

gearhead · #7 05/18/2005, 09:28 AM

yeah i am looking for something that will tell me about caring for my corals & help in identifying them.

kroe · #8 05/18/2005, 09:50 PM

Corals of the world looks great, but $130 is a bit pricey. Is there a cheaper book worth buying for acro IDs?

gearhead · #9 05/18/2005, 09:52 PM

i picked up the Aquarium Corals today. very informative (from i looked thru so far). Covers all the corals plus how to take care of them. Well worth the $42.

kmagyar · #10 05/18/2005, 10:02 PM

Corals of the world is the only set you will need. It is a 3 volume set. Buy it from the Australian publisher and you will save some money. I'll see if I can find a link to the website.

kmagyar · #11 05/18/2005, 10:08 PM

http://www.aims.gov.au/pages/coralsworld/cotw-01.html

195 australian, 150 US,

sorry. I bought mine when MD sold it for 200.00 US

MiddletonMark · #12 05/19/2005, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kroe
Corals of the world looks great, but $130 is a bit pricey. Is there a cheaper book worth buying for acro IDs?

Not really, Carden Wallace's book would be better if it's Acropora you're looking at. But don't think it's much cheaper, it's from Australia as well.

To be honest, look at this thread [http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=366161] if you're gung-ho about getting a `positive' ID on Acropora. Joe here is one of the few who followed all the way through the ID process for a coral ... which is far more than just looking in a book/website at what's generally similar. IMO, once you know what a `definite ID' is, it makes you realize that it's doubtful many ID's are `for sure' and perhaps that species ID really doesn't tell you much anyway.

That's just my take, but after walking partway through the ID process [lacked a good scope at the time, and Wallace's book] ...it taught me that perhaps it is wiser not to claim I can ID down to species ... as without a bleached branch + serious study, it would be mostly just a guess. And given what Veron has said regarding shape, corallites, and other `distinguishing factors' [that they're highly variable and likely have more to do with micro-environment than species] ... well, I wouldn't be hung up on being right if you must ID.

Others think differently, but reading what I have ... it's hard to excited for [pay attention to ?] species ID's anymore.

gearhead · #13 05/19/2005, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MiddletonMark
Not really, Carden Wallace's book would be better if it's Acropora you're looking at. But don't think it's much cheaper, it's from Australia as well.

To be honest, look at this thread [http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=366161] if you're gung-ho about getting a `positive' ID on Acropora. Joe here is one of the few who followed all the way through the ID process for a coral ... which is far more than just looking in a book/website at what's generally similar. IMO, once you know what a `definite ID' is, it makes you realize that it's doubtful many ID's are `for sure' and perhaps that species ID really doesn't tell you much anyway.

That's just my take, but after walking partway through the ID process [lacked a good scope at the time, and Wallace's book] ...it taught me that perhaps it is wiser not to claim I can ID down to species ... as without a bleached branch + serious study, it would be mostly just a guess. And given what Veron has said regarding shape, corallites, and other `distinguishing factors' [that they're highly variable and likely have more to do with micro-environment than species] ... well, I wouldn't be hung up on being right if you must ID.

Others think differently, but reading what I have ... it's hard to excited for [pay attention to ?] species ID's anymore.

that is why i got the Aquarium Coral book. this book has good information to help narrow down the ID a little. It also has chapters on care for your corals.

Adrian · #14 05/19/2005, 09:26 AM

I have corals of the world and although its a great collection of books for ID, I prefer to use sprungs Corals book for quick ID, I use vernons books to try and get a definite ID which rarely happens cause i end up thumbng through the entire book looking at the pics. Bornemans book is great for individual care of particular corals though.