The Complete Reef Aquarist: for hobbyists, the trade and academics: 2023

Preface People are naturally drawn to water, a stroll along a riverbank or a visit to the beach. The boundary between that close enough to touch hidden world appears to fascinate all ages from toddlers to the elderly. Our development is inextricably linked to aquatic ecosystems inasmuch as their animals are a valuable source of nourishment and we must regularly hydrate. I spent many hours in cars as a young boy travelling to Scarborough or Robin Hood's Bay during which I would ask persistently, "are we there yet?" Sea air is remarkable and rock pools are crammed with life that captivates, which enhance our existence and form treasured and often hilarious memories. I began keeping marines in the mid-seventies after freshwater fish from the age of four. Saltwater aquaria are superior in several ways. Wild fish effortlessly adjust to captivity and become quirky family members, and balanced seawater has an unrivalled clarity, while its inhabitants reflect and fluoresce an affluence of vibrant colours. Unusual and wonderful animals and plants inhabit extraordinary oceanic surroundings; how could they fail to enlarge our reality. Suppliers of marine ornamentals are forced to operate within economic constraints. Tropical collectors and exporters must feed their families, whereas retail outlets must build and run electricity-expending commercial fish-only and reef installations. And despite the desirability of a fully stocked vibrant reef and the almost addictive nature of the hobby, reef aquarists are also limited financially. By necessity they must purchase costly equipment, consumables, and reimburse their utility company. Retail workers receive minimum wage which is testament to their lifelong commitment to these fascinating and frequently intelligent animals. Yet staff turnover is disproportionate. Many lack the experience and knowledge required to assemble and operate efficacious life support systems that nurture sea life. Nascent hobbyists are reliant on the advice provided by their local outlet, so repeated failure and bitter disappointment drives 65 percent of newcomers to relinquish their reef within the first year. Herein lies everything necessary to successfully design and operate ornamental marine life support systems from commercial to domestic or fish-only to reef, while cost-free dissemination of this volume to tropical exporters facilitates the development of environmentally sound and sustainable practices that empowers and promotes these future custodians of wild reef ecology.