Boring Board??

[AJ_77]

Is it just me, or is the board slowing down? Without its two top posters, the amount of threads/posts is a trickle. Still, there are many "advanced aquarists" listed as mods and members.

I encourage those with good solid reefing experience and knowledge to step up to the keyboard, and keep the momentum going here. There are more and more members signing up, but some days there is <squat> that has been posted.

This is a great board that I'm happy to have as my online reefing home. The combined knowledge and experience of its members is a huge and valuable resource, and this is a cool place to find a commonality in a hobby that is more than just a hobby.

As I've said many times before, mostly in the Calgary forum, "I will succeed in this hobby because of you all." Let's keep this ball rolling.

OR: Am I out to lunch?? Would like to hear some opinions on how people feel this board is doing. I see many positive notes and reasons for optimism, but a real dearth at other times...

[Canadian Man]

I have stopped being on so much Alan partly to keep my darling wife happy. So while I am at work I will check in but usually at night there is some compromise happening.

As well, I have kinda stopped posting questions because I don't have any :? :lol: I suppose I take for granted some times the little things/observations that happen in my system that others may find intresting if I posted them but I don't.

maybe I will start. :D

[DJ88]

Alan,

Without its two top posters, the amount of threads/posts is a trickle

I'll be back more soon. Promise.. Just have some things going on that are requiring a bit of what little time I have left in the day. Plus I started working a couple nights a week at a new past time of mine. ;)

Cheers,

[EmilyB]

I give up.

It's a good friendly board but no one wants to spend the time to share something.

Later...

:neutral:

[Troy F]

I can't speak for you Calgarians but it's been mighty nice out here on the coast for a while now and I've been outside doing yard work and playing with the kids lately. That, the NHL playoffs and my youngest boy's lacrosse schedule is insane. We've had games or practices almost every day.

[Bartman]

This is a personal observation from someone new to the hobby and this forum.

It appears, through various posts I have read, that many of you know each other personally and use this forum as a valuable communication tool for your interest in this hobby. There are, as noted, new members joining fairly often. Are you seeing many posts and replies from most of these people?

New discussions are often started by inexperienced hobbyists who have a question. Members with a wealth of experience weigh in on the topic and everybody learns. My personal observation has been that the opinions or attitudes expressed in these situations by experienced members have too often been exclusionary or derogatory in tone or content. As a new member reading through various threads, which I may or may not be participating in, I have felt unwelcome. I wonder if others have had similar feelings?

Just my thoughts.

[Van down by the river]

I think people go through phases AJ_77 ,plus spring is here and everyone including myself are outside more. I still check for anything interesting everyday. I really enjoy allot of what is posted and the characters that post them! :biggrin: .
Although sometimes I'm guilty of being "difficult" :evil: I think things are generally friendly and open here. I've been confrontational with my opinion several times, yet I feel I'm treated fairly.
I think some of the derogatory comments are sometimes deserved by those that receive them, including myself.

No one, I believe has ever been turned away that had a legitimate question.

I think sometimes people want others on the board to do their work for them, or want quick fix answers and don't want to actually learn anything. Or they want to brag/lie about what they've achieved. Those posts usually get flack, and in my (usually long winded) opinion deserve it. It's no different from aquarium club meetings I've been to. Newbie's are quiet at first, but the ones willing to ask a honest question are usually quickly helped by a more experienced hobbyist. After a few meetings they've learned to avoid the "hot-air hobbyists" and become part of the group. The "know-it-alls" that know nothing, weed themselves out.
After all, they created a the newbie forum so that the basic questions that get re-asked only need to be replied to once, and judging by the view numbers is well used.

Do we all know each other? No, many of the people I talk to here I've never met. A few I met here before I ran into them in a store. One day I'll be able to put faces to many of the names, maybe.
It just takes time. Remember patience is one of the most valuable skills you can have in this hobby.

[trilinearmipmap]

I think it's a good forum.

I have asked a bunch of questions planning for a reef tank that one day will be there. And mostly got good answers.

On one occasion i saw twits sniping at each other on this board, otherwise I have seen constructive ideas.

I am impressed by the quality of the reefs I have seen by local people on this board and also by the dedication and knowledge of a lot of people on this board.

Anyway that is my two bits worth.

[Doug]

Bartman, I have never thought for most threads, that someone was made to feel unwelcome. There have been situations though. :confused:

I must say for myself, although I check most threads, that many which are of interest to newer aquarists, become redundant to others. I have been doing this a long time and answering questions on a dozen boards.

I try to answer some of the newer questions, but most answers on any of the boards for beginner questions can be found by doing a search. For myself, I also like to participate in posts that are of interest to me, like the current one on flow in the reef forum. I would think that would apply to many long time aquarists.

Its nice to hear opinions like yours though. Thats the only way we know if members feel there is a problem that needs to be addressed.

I dont know what the answer is to get more aquarists and posting here. You guys are correct on the local thing. Although many of us are from other places, most are local{BC} aquarists. Or Calgary/Edmonton group.

Perhaps the board will never expand beyond that. And maybe thats fine. Ontario has a board and Stephane moderates on a french board. That covers a large part of Canadian aquarists, so where do we draw from? I know for a fact that Winnipeg has a large number of reef keepers. Other than Jayson, none of them post on here or many other boards.

Also time of the year, mentioned by Troy plays a part. Myself, I have been so busy fighting flatworms for so long, what can I post on. :lol: I take my stuff out, put it back, and so on. :lol: Nobody else here runs a scrubber, so cant talk about that. Just things like water flow and lighting I guess.

[Canadian Man]

Speaking of the flow discussion in the reef forum. I posted this to create some excitment. I could do searchs all day and read them all but I think some of us have to post some questions that pop into our heads rather then thinking then over only to ourselves. Like the Flow Discussion. I was thinking about this for the past week and said to my self, "why don't I just post it!" :rolleyes:

I have to agree, sometimes lifes demands sway us away but I always check in a few times a day at least.

[StirCrazy]

I give up.

It's a good friendly board but no one wants to spend the time to share something.

Later...

:neutral:

What have you given up on? did i miss a thread? your question about the star fish is getting lots of input.... :question:

Steve

[Bob I]

It is very difficult to reply to this post without incurring a flood of disparaging comments. I will, however, give it a shot.

This board is often very unfriendly. This may only be perception, because we are dealing with a number of problems. One of the problems being that many people have not met each other, and that we are dealing with written words, not face to face interaction. Without the body language of face to face discussion we are left with just words. It is impossible to have a correct interpretation of what a poster really means. Some posters have left this board because they are sick and tired of the personal attacks made by a couple of know it alls.

Some of the people who reply to every post usually by subtly ridiculing the person making the post do not have all the answers. Yet they make a person feel small by making assertions, which are not backed up by fact. These folks do not admit that there may be other valid ways to approach a problem. When an honest question is posted, the person posing the question is often derided by these "know it alls".

That is the crux of the problem. There are usually several approaches to problems. I myself when answering a post will be offering a method that has worked for me. What works for me is usually a less expensive, and simple solution. Yet when I dare to offer this simple and often inexpensive solution it is almost always denegrated by one of the "know it alls".

And yes I am very much bothered by the often glaring misuse of the English language. I find it difficult to read posts with spelling errors. I have the urge to correct these errors, but have found that instead of helping people they feel offended. Therefore, I have mended my ways by not mentioning these errors.

Anyway those are some of my feelings about the lack of discussion on this board. :rolleyes:

[Doug]

I agree Jon. I was mentioning the search for many of the new aquarists questions, that have been on every board, six million times. They are important to the asker but how many other aquarists answer them. My point is, after answering them so many times, a point comes when some just dont respond anymore. On a huge board like RC, the mods of the beginner reefing forums answer many questions, as do many of the regulars, but the bulb are answered by aquarists who have started out not to long ago, and know the answers and dont mind posting them.

I actually though our new reefer forum, which was originally intended for articles only, seems to be going fine. Most questions are getting answered.

As I am on many boards and have many posts on some, I answer several e-mails or pm,s per day, most by new aquarists seeking advice. I always answer and some several times more. I dont mind that at all. I assume there are many regulars of the boards that are in the same situation.

[EmilyB]

What have you given up on? did i miss a thread? your question about the star fish is getting lots of input.... :question:

Steve

:lol: Just wanted to wake you and Bob up....things were getting dull.....

It's a great group. :cool: I simply don't have a life..... :rolleyes: :lol:

[MitchM]

I enjoy this board, because of it's relatively small size, and the varying personalities. :smile:
Nobody can get lost here like in the larger boards. Everybodys' post is read by probably most members. Yeah, personalities sometimes clash, but I see that as part of the fun.
I see new board members welcomed here all the time, and yes, if someone gives out bad or inaccurate advice, it's going to be jumped on, and hopefully the topic is going to be resolved with facts. None of us wants to see someone receive bad advice and wind up with a failed reef set-up and dead fish.
I've enjoy the debates and arguements that I've read and or participated in!
If I've ever offended anyone, then I apologize.
I wish there were more active threads too, but we'll just have to work with what we've got. :mrgreen:

Mitch

[Bob I]

.
I've enjoy the debates and arguements that I've read and or participated in!
If I've ever offended anyone, then I apologize.

The whole point is that if you offer advice that is factual, AND is something that works at your house, no-one should be offended. However, if someone argues, and implies that the advice you offered is incorrect, or attacks you personally, you have a right to be offended..

A recent case in point was when someone asked what to do about surface scum. I gave the inexpensive cure that works well for me. That is a cheap Aquaclear. All other posters immediately said you need a skimmer with a surface skimming device. This was after I gave a workable, and inexpensive cure. It was as if they said "well that is what Bob does, but who listens to Bob, he is really a dummy". :rolleyes:

[MitchM]

.
...The whole point is that if you offer advice that is factual, AND is something that works at your house, no-one should be offended. ...

Yep, and if it works at your house, then it should work in the rest of the natural world, right?
I must have missed that one.... :rolleyes: surface skimming is different than skimming skimming. Heck, I've even used a paper towel to surface skim once when a RIO 2500 melted in my tank!

Mitch

[Aquattro]

.
[quote]

A recent case in point was when someone asked what to do about surface scum. I gave the inexpensive cure that works well for me. That is a cheap Aquaclear. All other posters immediately said you need a skimmer with a surface skimming device. This was after I gave a workable, and inexpensive cure. It was as if they said "well that is what Bob does, but who listens to Bob, he is really a dummy". :rolleyes:

Bob, I think your advice here was fine. I personally redirect a powerhead at the surface, but I certain wasn't one of the "all other posters" that recommended a skimmer to solve that. I didn't actually see the original post, but I would have sided with you.

[christyf5]

It's a good friendly board but no one wants to spend the time to share something.


Hi EmilyB,

I'm a gemini and I like long walks on the beach. Call me :wink:


:razz:

[Bob I]

[quote=rcipema].
...The whole point is that if you offer advice that is factual, AND is something that works at your house, no-one should be offended.

Yep, and if it works at your house, then it should work in the rest of the natural world, right?

Not necessarily true, but it was offered as something that worked for me, and as such it should not be denegrated. It is just another method being offered. That is the beauty of these boards. The person asking the question can decide for himself what method he wants to use. and if it it does not work no-no is to blame.
:rolleyes:

[Quinn]

i can honestly say that without this board and advice and assistance from a number of its members, i am sure i would have made some big big mistakes and possibly might be already tired of the hobby by this time, assuming i would have wasted a lot of money and nothing to show for it.

to me it seems like most forums of this size have some type of initiation phase - each member has certain quirks, and when you're dealing with the same people in your posts from day to day, it seems like you can't really get anywhere until you recognize and work around these quirks. at the same time, opinions seem to be a big part of this hobby, and you have to take some things with a grain of salt. i am finding that sometimes it's best to ignore posts that could be seen as personal attacks against ones self. if a newbie hangs around, i think they will soon discover that canreef does in fact have much to offer the beginning reef hobbyist.

[Doug]

And I also think the advice and knowledge given here, is as good as any large US board. Its second to none. There are many different approachs to the hobby.

We have some very experienced reef keepers, many with tanks that make you drool. Many have different avenues of expertise, even with harder to do sps tanks. We have aquarists, that have a different approach to reef keeping. A much simpler style, but one that I know works well, and is a another way to keep a reef tank, without complications and bank loans. :lol:

We even have people who have expertise in other fields, like electrical and the such. We have some excellent aquarium related buisness owners, that post on here and help.

Overall the posts may not be as abundant as some of the large boards, {but its as many as over half of the other boards I am on}, but as mentioned, at least it stays on the same page for a day. :lol:

[Mak]

I'm somewhat back :biggrin: ... if that makes any difference :lol: :lol: :lol: .

Just a little advice, don't take any negative reactions to heart. Just take it with a grin :cool: .

[Skimmerking]

Well i would love to talk to people i'm in the army OH well
I blew it here
later \



Any one have any space for my tank on there site so i can put it up to show you guys...
mike
\email if you do

[BC_Grl]

Mak, you're back? Where did you go? :razz:
I've been not so active since I no longer have a tank (and sorely miss it).

But in all, I think we have a good group.:biggrin: