Be taken seriously!! Post those tanks!!

cb684 · Jan 26, 2016

At this point of the discussion it sounds like people want a free pass on their opinion based on how long they are in the hobby and/or how good their tank looks. Isn't this exactly the point of the forum (help others and LEARN)? I think being challenged is constructive and people should not be afraid of it. If the other opinion is too off from what you believe to be the right answer, do your research, and if you still think you are right ignore the other opinion. When I am wrong, it means I learned something, and I believe that is even better. (It may save my tank one day!)

Lenny_S · Jan 26, 2016

Thanks goes out to the OP, I think this is a good thread... although I personally don't agree with show me a tank to prove you know what you are talking about.
I haven't been on this forum long, but I jumped in with both feet. I try to help out wherever and whenever I can. But lately it seems that there is more disagreement than usual among the members offering advice. This has happened to me a few time now and I have to say my input to the forum has decreased as a result. I simply don't see the value in getting into a debate about soft topics that seldom have only 1 right answer.
I see a lot of the very active members on this very thread, I think they are all great, and that is why I think this is a good thread.
In my most humble opinion tone is one of the biggest problems. These are written messages, and I get the feeling some members read what is written and if there is even the slightest thing off in the post the voice doing the reading in their had has some kind of negative tone.
My only other comment in this is that it would be nice if any post or advice made it more clear if the input given is coming from direct personal experience, someone else's experience you were closely involved in, or comes from some written reference. Certainly not all of the input I've provided to posts comes from direct personal experience, but I try to make it clear just where that is coming from. I have to admit, I don't always do that myself, and I re-read some of my posts and it sounds more direct than I really intended, but at least I try.

timkenagy · Jan 26, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
Where are all these disrespectful threads y'all speak of. Reef2reef is tame compared to most every popular site out there.

Edit: Actually NVM, I'm kind of embarrassed that I participated in such a silly thread. I blush.....

This wasn't directed at R2R specifically.. I have seen it a few times here, although you're right it is better here. That's why I'm here. Almost exclusively.

lucky you!

timkenagy · Jan 26, 2016

Lenny_S said:
Thanks goes out to the OP, I think this is a good thread... although I personally don't agree with show me a tank to prove you know what you are talking about.
I haven't been on this forum long, but I jumped in with both feet. I try to help out wherever and whenever I can. But lately it seems that there is more disagreement than usual among the members offering advice. This has happened to me a few time now and I have to say my input to the forum has decreased as a result. I simply don't see the value in getting into a debate about soft topics that seldom have only 1 right answer.
I see a lot of the very active members on this very thread, I think they are all great, and that is why I think this is a good thread.
In my most humble opinion tone is one of the biggest problems. These are written messages, and I get the feeling some members read what is written and if there is even the slightest thing off in the post the voice doing the reading in their had has some kind of negative tone.
My only other comment in this is that it would be nice if any post or advice made it more clear if the input given is coming from direct personal experience, someone else's experience you were closely involved in, or comes from some written reference. Certainly not all of the input I've provided to posts comes from direct personal experience, but I try to make it clear just where that is coming from. I have to admit, I don't always do that myself, and I re-read some of my posts and it sounds more direct than I really intended, but at least I try.

Thanks.. But again my intention wasn't you HAVE to show me at tank to prove anything.. It was, as I've explained 3 or 4 times now, a you as a hobbiest have a work to show off your experience. So be proud of it and show it off!

And people confuse years in the hobby with experience. After I had been in for a couple years one of my neighbors approached me (because he could see the glow

) he tells me how he's been in the hobby for over 25 years. I ask him if he'd like some corals. He said no I've tried coral in the past and they just die. But he wanted me to look at his tank because he had some worms taking over. I went in and he had a 125 gallon that had an infestation of some worm that looked like maggots in his substrate.. Hair algae covered everything. 2 pieces of rock. A compact fluorescent light for a 10 gallon tank (that was all the lights) and the only resident was a domino damsel that was about the size of my hand fully spread out. I asked when the last time he did a water change. He said about 7 years ago.. I asked about his top off. He said he takes a glass from the sink every day.. My point is he's got 25 years experience in the hobby and at that time I had 2. Me taking any advice from him would be stupid. And I tried to direct him to here and he just said he likes his books (as some has suggested) books are great but they'res so much unique situations in this hobby.. It literally takes a community..

mcmc1717 · Jan 26, 2016

Trying to read all these pages makes me tired, lol

brandon429 · Jan 26, 2016

don't inflict that on ones self just shop out all the pics and check em out~

timkenagy · Jan 26, 2016

Now one thing that does drive me nuts

is I run a local club. There's a few new guys that, while I love to help out, are constantly blowing up my pm box asking questions every day. I guess it could be my fault as well for not forcing them to look things up. But my day usually starts off with 10 questions or so that are basic that could easily be looked up.. Things like what's the difference between Phosban and Phosguard. Things that could be asked in the community or searched because they've already been asked a million times.

brandon429 · Jan 26, 2016

After re reading this thread has cemented my earlier assumption. if I want to see what one can do at home, I need a personal tank shot. if I want to see what someone can do with reefs, I need a thread of you doing something in others tanks.

people like to substitute one or both of the above required actions with formal links or articles as the final say but I value the threads more as proof, not the formal stuff

d2mini · Jan 26, 2016

I have serious tank in serious tank forum.

oh and...

trido · Jan 26, 2016

Sabellafella said:
This kid got madd because i said the kid has 2 powerheads in his tank flow shouldnt be a problem, nothing else that is it. Asking me if i have "photo of the month Nd do i travel with clubs and how many tanks have i had in the last decade" you take this to seriously bro what is this a game THIS IS A FORUM , i gotta come here to prove myself to people seriously man. Really pathetic bro grow up (edit i never once said you did not no what your talking about. I never even said anything to you untill you messaged me . You took it upon yourself to say (imdone withthis thread) all from me saying the kid has 2 powerheads. These people like you just take stuff offensively and dont kno how to control themselves

Funny.... You're the kid. I'm old enough to be your dad. No joke.

Elton20 · Jan 26, 2016

Typically, I am posting on discussions in an attempt to help out and give them that alternative perspective., but it usually ends up in someone accusing me that I am telling them there is one absolute way to do a certain thing when in reality, it's my way of doing things and the way I have found to be successful.
I haven't done much posting of my tank because it was when I started and as time went on I improved my techniques and found ways that worked best for me. I will definitely post some things now that I've gotten a good grasp of this hobby.
Again, my attempts to help people are only suggesting solutions, never forcing them.

Oscaror · Jan 27, 2016

trido said:
Funny.... You're the kid. I'm old enough to be your dad. No joke.

I think everyone on this forum is old enough to be my dad
Sometimes I see adults on this forum acting my age and it surprises me

Oscaror · Jan 27, 2016

What I've gotten from this thread is that people should have credibility behind what they say.

GREAT POINT!
I value proof immensely, and won't believe what can't be well backed up

And that a persons tank determines their credibility?

BAD POINT!
My tank looks like garbage and that is part of the reason why I know what I know. I've learned from my mistakes. I need to correct those mistakes, but I don't have the time right now.
This thread is like saying a person is a bad paleontologist because they haven't dug up any dinosaurs, you can research and learn things, and pass down that knowledge. You don't have to display that you've used it, you should just be able to validate it. For instance, I find a QT a necessary part of a system. I happen to have only one fish, everything else died. I know now that you need to QT, but looking at my system, you'd think i didn't know that.

Idk those are my thoughts, completely disregarding the 11 pages of postings, just the first post.