As someone who recently dove into the saltwater aquarium hobby, I found this book to be a mixed bag. The colorful pictures and concise format make it approachable for newbies like me—no overwhelming jargon, just bite-sized info chunks perfect for quick reference.

PROS: The first half delivers solid basics—tank cycling, water chemistry, and fish compatibility are explained clearly. I especially appreciated the troubleshooting section; it saved my clownfish when I spotted early signs of ich! The mini species encyclopedia (while brief) helped me avoid pairing aggressive triggers with my timid gobies.

CONS: Veteran aquarists will yawn at the content. Lighting? One vague page. Coral care? Almost nonexistent. When my torch coral started receding, this book offered zero help—I had to scour forums instead. The fish profiles feel like Wikipedia previews rather than in-depth guides.

VERDICT: Keep it as a pretty reference for absolute beginners (that troubleshooting section alone is worth shelf space), but pair it with modern online resources or advanced books if you're serious about reef-keeping. It's the training wheels of marine aquarium literature—helpful until you need to ride uphill.