Larry, Glad you got a chuckle out of it, however that may only imply that you don't know who (which authors) to read. While I can't comment on any of the other topics you've mentioned, I haven't found very much conflicting advice written by RECOGNIZED (as I previously stated) authoritative authors of aquarium books.
As I understand it, within certain recognized boundaries, a woodworker may for instance finish whatever project he's built in a number of ways, including varnish, shellac or polyurethane over stain, or even finish with paint, etc. As for joints, while some applications allow for only certain types of joints to be used, a woodworker may decide on using a Full Blind Dovetail, a Half Blind Dovetail, a Dado, a Rabbet Butt, a Mortise & Tenon, a Box Joint, Spline Joint, Finger Joint or and one of a number of different joints where they may be used -- with many joints be able to use any one of several different types of the above.
Model railroading can include just about anything a modelers chooses to do in building his own pike -- using any code of track, when modeling in H0 for instance, of Code 55, Code 70, Code 83 or Code 100. He may choose any era he wishes to model also or else do what he pleases -- leading to the term -- "Modelers License," taking any liberty he wants to.
With tropical Fish, in properly maintaining them, we are talking about a strict application of the principles of science, which cannot be deviated from without the consequence of the eventual death of the fish involved if we do decide not to follow agreed upon methods. By any standards, I have a fair sized library of aquarium books and full volumes of related magazines going back to 1915, right up through the present day. Among recognized authors, I find no conflicts of established methods of fishkeeping, as the needs of the fish are such that only certain principles must be met to promote the longevity of these animals. Lesser or unknown authors may write of some unorthodox methods of keeping fish, which may work at least for a while, but unless these methods follow somewhere within the required principles of science needed to sustain fish, there will be an eventual failure. It follows that to properly maintain fish, there can be very few conflicting inaccuracies stated by authoritative authors if it is expected that with the advice given, that the fish will continue to live as the principles of fishkeeping do not allow for a whole lot of deviation from this science behind their maintenance.
On the other hand, are you to tell me that there is not a bunch of inaccurate garbage being posted on so-called web sites, by so-called authorities? If your answer is that there is not, then It is my turn to have a good laugh, as anyone who knows good fishkeeping has seen over and over all the discrepencies stated on the internet.
If you go with a well-recognized author who has been in this field a good many years, and who's writings coincide with his or her contemporaries, you can't go wrong. After all, why have YOU brought up the Baensch Aquarium Atlas if you haven't recognized that the author (Hans A. Baensch) has written authoritative literature on aquarium fish that you can trust? BTW, while I'll agree that this book (in several volumes) can be expensive, it can often be found on eBay at good prices -- and, you can buy them one at a time (Volume I being excellent on all the basics of fish keeping). There are many excellent books available, some out of print but offered on occasions on eBay or even places like Craig's list. Ray
--- In tropicalfishclub@yahoogroups.com, Larry Blanchard <labl@...> wrote:
>
> Ray wrote:
> > The best sources for accurate information is still informative books written by well-recognized and authoritative authors.
>
>
> I had to chuckle over that one, Ray. I'm a voracious reader and have
> read a majority of the books and articles in my hobby and professional
> fields - tropical fish, model railroads, woodworking, woodtuning,
> computer programming. Time after time I've caught "authoritative"
> authors giving directly conflicting advice. Perhaps the worst examples
> have been on wood finishing, but aquarium sources don't do much better.
>
> And how is a beginner to determine the "authoritative" works?
>
> Baench's (sp?) multi-volume atlas is one of the best sources I've found,
> but it is expensive and generally not available in libraries. And it
> certainly isn't infallible.
>
> I will agree that on the whole, books may have the edge over online
> info. But in either case I'd suggest reading from several sources and
> going with the prevalent view. It doesn't always get the right answer
> but it improves the odds :-).
>
> In the end, it becomes a trial and error process, using books and other
> sources to shorten the process.
>
> Larry B
>
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