A desperate plea to "Newbie" aquarist

[Salty1962]

This is what I like about this site, open discussion I believe everyone's opinion can help someone. I know I for one do learn many things from my errors, or at least I try too I'll admit I don't know everything

 

[jeffrey holloway]

Keep helping the Newbies. I spent almost 3 yrs reading these forums and watching how much the hobby progressed in that short amount of time. Saved me alot of money by doing my home work. They really need your help, just look at how many people give up and sale their equipment. Not good for the hobby. The best advice I can give is don't get in the reef hobby if don't have the time to marry yourself to it.

 

[Paul B]

Excellent advice Tripdad. Unfortunately we have the internet where anyone can post anything and there are no fact checkers. There is to much information and much of it is wrong or confusing. Find one person with a successful system you like and follow them.
Good luck Noobs.

 

[tripdad]

Thank you for the comment Paul, I have always enjoyed your threads.

 

[Paula C Owens]

I sit and read on these forums and my heart bleeds for the new folks getting into the hobby. They come on here and ask for help and most of the time they are offered some sound and sage advice. My problem is that they can get...., let's say "misled" very easily as this is a hobby with a huge amount to learn. They ask a question and people respond..."you must have PO4 below .02" You can't put that in with that", You can't have your LED"S turned up that high", etc., etc. I think we, old farts, have all seen tanks that blow all the " rules" away and methods that "should" end up in disaster create absolutely stunning tanks. Are there some basic rules? Sure, absolutely but I don't think there are many "Absolutes" and stating your "beliefs" as absolutes only confuses the new aquarists. So my point, For you "Newbs", find a tank that is a success, a person that has success and model what they do until you have some success. Taking a piece from this tank and a piece from that methodology will rarely work at first. Once you have gained some experience then start taking bits and pieces and putting them together. You will be much more able to solve problems when they arise after you have had a little success first. I also think you will be more likely to stay in the hobby if you have a little success first instead of failure after failure. For you experienced reefers, try stating things as "your opinion" instead of "facts" unless your dead sure of what your saying, I know I rarely am that sure. So my desperate plea is this..... For you Newbs try keeping in mind that a lot of what you will read is opinion and not "fact". In fact, assume it's an opinion unless stated otherwise and even then be a skeptic. I mean think on it, can you get the same answer from more than one source? Does it make sense? Is it coming from someone with a successful tank? Is the source up to date? So on and so on.Use the "Stickies"threads that are at the top of each forum. I am not saying that you have to be a "Master" to give good advice, just saying that you should say..."My opinion/advice is you may want to try this..." Stating things as absolutes can be dangerous, especially to those new to the hobby. By the way this is all JUST MY OPINION. Happy reefing!

THANK YOU for saying this because as a newbie I've been having probs with the tank we have and have turned here for advice from those MUCH more knowledgeable than myself!!!! I have gotten a lot of different responses and suggestions as well as a lot of same responses and suggestions. I tend to go with the majority rules kinda thing. Ty for speaking up for us newbies.