[GaryZ]

As some of you know, I'm new to the hobby. I keep hearing how important it is to buy reef books. I have to say, they are not high on my priority list.

Why?:

I love the research end of the hobby. I'm a reader at heart. Have been all my life. But why buy books when I have so much information via the web? Whats the difference between curling up with a good reef book and sitting in front of the computer?

Does thread starting equal laziness?:

Some say that starting threads is a form of laziness. Not so much on this forum. But others I am a member of (not reef related) actually look down on duplicate threads. Even if the original thread is somewhere on page 30. I like the discussion part of it. It feels more human to me. If one can get so much information from starting a thread, why buy a book?

The main question on this thread, however, is wether or not buying reef books is as necessary as it once was. When I can start a thread about a worm I saw in my tank, get 3 or 4 heads together to try and narrow down what it is. Have a couple knowledgeable people supply links and help out. Why buy books? Why buy books when someone like Steven Pro is a moderator at a forum I'm a member of and is willing to help. Why buy books when there are people like Ninong, who seemingly have an endless supply of links and information regarding pretty much every topic I have ever brought up.

I hope I'm not giving the impression that I take any of this help for granted. In fact, it's just the opposite. I look forward to the day when I can rifle off information and help someone out. I hold the people that offer advice, in such an unselfish manner, in the highest regard. But the question remains:

Why buy books?

[Ninong]

Why buy books?

So that you will have a better understanding of what it is that you don't know.

If you're going to keep corals, you should at least get one decent book. I highly recommend Eric Borneman's Aquarium Corals.

That one book would be an excellent start. It will give you a good foundation to build upon.

[GaryZ]

Originally Posted by Ninong

So that you will have a better understanding of what it is that you don't know.

If you're going to keep corals, you should at least get one decent book. I highly recommend Eric Borneman's Aquarium Corals.

That one book would be an excellent start. It will give you a good foundation to build upon.

Ok, fair enough. But I could, literally, sit in front of the computer and read all night every night for months and still not read all the information available on the hobby. Granted, some of the information is jank. I'm just wondering if the "Reef Library" is quite as necessary as it once was.

[BubbaWPB]

I like the books, especially on critters... a good book of corals or saltwater fish gives you a wide variety of information on many different species. Also, I find much of the info on fish and coral species on the net is VERY superficial.

[Reefland]

We have a pretty decent library on the hobby and although we do have a great resource available here, they are invaluable to me. Why? Well in a nut shell, the books are written by professionals that have been in the industry for decades in some cases and therefore have more functional experience than many of us could imaging. Let's take Anthony Calfo for instance or Bob Fenner, these guys have been in nearly every aspect of the industry from importer to retailer and have more experience's to share that I ever will. The scientific research they have done and information they publish makes it very worth while.

[CSeaSee]

I think the discussion here is a part of a larger change that society is going through. With the Internet available almost anywhere, people are increasingly becoming dependent on it for finding information. Even ten or fifteen years ago, people still used books for most of their information, on any subject.
Today, most people in my generation don't even know what "recreational reading" means. I am a gross exception, BTW. I read anything and everything, which is why I'm halfway decent at shows like Jeopardy. Maybe one day this habit will, literally, pay off. Anyways, I think books can cover a topic in much greater detail than most forum discussions, and can span a greater breadth of topic as well. On anything, not just reefkeeping.
The Internet is a wonderful tool, no doubt. I can't remember the last time I did actual library research for a paper. With 20 research databases at my fingertips, I can bring 100 relevant documents to my screen in an instant. What used to take people days to track down can now be done in 30 minutes.
That being said, books are more permanent that bytes (literally- books can last many, many more years than a computer file, which will eventually degrade after, I believe, a decade or two), and are useful for when you want to know a lot about a topic. These books are easier to access, by using the index, than sorting through 18 posts, some with only 2 replies and containing little content on the topic in question.
If someone writes a paper, using books as sources carries much greater weight than posts on a discussion board (no offense to anyone, including Ninong- who I believe could write A LOT of books if he wanted to). Anyone can write whatever they want to online, but getting a book, or multiple books, published is much more difficult. Don't get me wrong, this is a wonderful forum with a wealth of knowledge. But there are always crackpots somewhere who will say something completely wrong, like saying that UG filters are the standard against which everything else is measured. Having a book collection to compare suggestions against can help separate the wheat from the chaff.
Will everything always be like this? Who knows. I have always bought my recreational books in paperback or hardcover, but in the last few months I have downloaded copies of popular books onto my PDA and read them with Microsoft Reader. Not only does this help pass the time quickly in my BORING lectures, but I can, literally, carry an entire library around in something the size of my wallet.
I have a small collection of Marine Aquarium books that I refer to (which usually find their way into that bathroom- yes, I just wrote that :-) ), and I have found them invaluable, and a wonderful complement to Reefland.com. I think that complete knowledge can best be achieved through a combination of print and on-line discussions, and will continue to accumulate books for my personal library.

[GaryZ]

Nice take C. You pretty much summed up what I was wondering. I love reading books too. I guess the best thing would be to read at least one GOOD book, then fill in the blanks online. Maybe I'll pick up that one that Ninong suggested. Its just so hard to pick up a book when I enjoy talking to you fine people so much.....

[CSeaSee]

Haha that's just because you haven't met me yet! I'll be in Chicago for IMAC next year!

[scubadude]

I just buy books for the pictures

Seriously there is no comparison....illiteracy can be in many different forms for many different people....some ppl love the net and some ppl love books....and some ppl love both. I personally would not be with out a complete library of books anytime I have a fairly large tank (75g or larger) There are books that have information that I might (doubt it though) find information on specific areas but its too time consuming to put it all together like a book does. Books are no doubt very effecient especially on specialized topics. For example, when I was into building skimmers understanding them was much more complex then most realize and what made me realize that book is P.R. Escobar's book on "Aquatic Systems Engineering" look on the net for information on how to get exactly the right ratio of air to water into your reaction chamber (its 14-16% if memory serves me correctly) and you will find that its hard to come by. or how long dwell time the bubbles should have comparitive to theyre space, of course my comparisons my be technical but you will find that alot of ppl that start out new like you, will become entranced with the hobby and can make you crave understanding beyond that what is easily available (the net....gee any1 can google nowadays)

[Reefland]

Hey now, if you keep calling us fine people we're going ot have to reduce your status at Reefland back to "Just Moved In".

Very interesting points by everyone here! The book that Ninong linked to is an excellent book for coral reference in addition to general tank care information. Just so you know what you would be getting, here is my take on the book:
http://www.reefland.com/rho/1104/medprod.php

[GaryZ]

Originally Posted by Reefland

Hey now, if you keep calling us fine people we're going ot have to reduce your status at Reefland back to "Just Moved In".

Very interesting points by everyone here! The book that Ninong linked to is an excellent book for coral reference in addition to general tank care information. Just so you know what you would be getting, here is my take on the book:
http://www.reefland.com/rho/1104/medprod.php

Hey now, all I gotta do is spam 19 more times and I'm a full blown citizen.

[GaryZ]

I mean 18 more times

[GaryZ]

Doh!

[Reefland]

Wonder what I might get when I get 9100?

[Reefland]

Ah rats, nothing changes.

[GaryZ]

You could always give yourself a new title.

"Lord of the Forum" has a nice ring.


Tis a sad day when the OP spams his own thread

[ghofmann]

I have 2 books in my library Clownfishes by Joyce Wilkerson and Aquarium Corals by Eric Borneman. Both are great books. I do admit I need to upgrade my library a bit, but it's much more fun spending my money on corals and chatting about them online.

I think my next book will be Julian Sprungs Invertabrates a Quick Refference.

[CSeaSee]

Originally Posted by GaryZ

Hey now, all I gotta do is spam 19 more times and I'm a full blown citizen.

Yeah, but once you're a citizen, people expect you to know something. Me, I just type whatever enters my head. Which can be quite a lot. Really. Why, I feel something coming right now, so I have post! Quickly!

[GaryZ]

Originally Posted by CSeaSee

Yeah, but once you're a citizen, people expect you to know something. Me, I just type whatever enters my head. Which can be quite a lot. Really. Why, I feel something coming right now, so I have post! Quickly!

Ok Scott, better delete about 20 of my posts, cuz I_dont_know_jack.

[Reefland]

You guys aren't right!

Greg,
If I may suggest, I think Reef Invertebrates (Fenner, Calfo) might be a better purchase for you. You've got a really good coral reference in Eric's book.