Synopsis
The Reef Aquarium Volume Three: Science, Art, and Technology Reefkeeping science involves the interplay of biology, chemistry, and physics. However, a reef aquarium is not simply a product of scientific knowledge. The application of engineering and its product technology, makes it possible to duplicate the specific biological, chemical, and physical requirements of a coral reef in a relatively small volume of water. This third volume in The Reef Aquarium series, provides the most thorough description of the science behind the creation of a captive reef, and critically reviews and explains the different philosophical approaches to reef aquarium design. It also describes and illustrates the existing as well as emerging technology for building reef aquariums, to help guide the selection of equipment, its proper use, and installation. While science and technology afford the blank canvas and tools to build a suitable life support system, the plants, animals, and of course the aquarist provide the final ingredient that we call art. This art also involves the system design as it relates to the living space, the aesthetic appearance of the display, and its ease of maintenance, safety, and functionality. To this end, this book provides a wealth of information regarding aquascaping techniques, which combine art, biology, and physics; and invaluable information regarding plumbing, electrical, and other aspects of the aquarium design that combine art and engineering. Lastly, this book discusses the benefits and potential environmental impacts of the marine aquarium hobby, the challenges for its future, and possible new directions. The Reef Aquarium volume three is the essential manual for all reef aquarium hobbyists, professional aquarists, and coral reef researchers who study, create, and enjoy coral reef ecosystems in the confines of an aquarium. Book Design: Daniel N. Ramirez
About the Author
J. Charles Delbeek graduated from the University of Toronto in 1981 with an honors bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s in zoology in 1986 and a bachelor’s in education in 1986. After enduring one winter too many in his native Toronto, he moved to Hawaii and took a position with the Waikiki Aquarium in 1995. He has been caring for marine organisms in closed systems for over 30 years and currently maintains ten exhibits at the Waikiki Aquarium ranging from a 12 gallon live coral exhibit to a 5500 gallon living reef tank. Charles’ latest projects included the construction of 5500 and 1200 gallon living reef displays opened in June of 2002 at the Waikiki Aquarium, and a 4000 gallon coral farm completed in the summer of 2004. A certified SCUBA diver since the age of 14, Charles has made over 300 dives in locations throughout the world including Canada, Fiji, Hawaii, Indonesia, Japan, south Korea, the Marshall Islands, Palau, the Solomon Islands, Thailand, the Florida Keys, Bonaire, St. Kitts, and St. Maartin. Charles has lectured at over 40 aquarium-related conferences and meetings, and published over 60 articles in the popular aquarium literature in the last 15 years. In addition to writing a monthly reef aquarium column for Aquarium Fish Magazine since 1997 and a bi-monthly column for Advanced Aquarist Online, he has with this book now co-authored three popular aquarium books with Julian Sprung. Julian Sprung is an author, photographer, aquarium design consultant, and Vice President of Two Little Fishies, Inc., an aquarium industry manufacturing and publishing company. Julian has a bachelor of science degree in zoology from the University of Florida, and has been keeping marine aquariums for nearly 30 years. He currently maintains 5 marine aquariums and two freshwater planted aquariums. Julian’s love of marinelife has resulted in many friendships with other coral reef researchers and reef keeping hobbyists around the world. He has dived on reefs in Australia, the Bahamas, Mexico, the Mediterranean, Panama, Puerto Rico, Fiji, Florida, Hawaii, Japan, Israel, Egypt, and the Solomon Islands. Julian’s other books include The Reef Aquarium, volumes one and two, which he co-authored with J. Charles Delbeek, Reef Notes Revisited and Revised (volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4), Corals: A Quick Reference Guide, Invertebrates: A Quick Reference Guide, and Algae: A Problem Solver Guide.
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