Mentoring new reef keepers?

[MTBake]

I've been in this hobby for 15 years. I've had successful tanks and unsuccessful tanks. Lots of people have helped me along the way when I was struggling.

That's why we're all here on R2R, imo. Is to help each other when we can't find an answer. Someone always has an idea or plan of attack to help.

I will say that I do enjoy the company here on R2R

 

[vetteguy53081]

I've been in this hobby for 15 years. I've had successful tanks and unsuccessful tanks. Lots of people have helped me along the way when I was struggling.

That's why we're all here on R2R, imo. Is to help each other when we can't find an answer. Someone always has an idea or plan of attack to help.

I will say that I do enjoy the company here on R2R

Bottom line : For each Other which makes it the COMMUNITY it is

 

[FishyFish]

If I may speak on behalf of a noob, I found it comforting to have a mentor or in my case, a few. I would like to see an OPTION for someone to have a mentor. Sometimes I felt so embarrassed to ask questions publicly. I got some pretty far out answers at the LFS. If it weren't for "the 3 wise men" on here, I would have failed at this. I am forever grateful.

I'm really late to the party but as a complete noob, this post summed up *exactly* how I feel. As someone who is brand new to the hobby I find posting a thread on this forum kind of scary and often find myself wishing that I had someone, anyone, to go to with the stupid questions without fear of being laughed at or worse, misinformed. Everyone here has been really awesome and helpful so far but that fear of asking too many stupid questions has still kept me from posting more than once. The reef squad sounds like a great feature but personally, not one that I would ever consider using at this point, just because I'm so new. I'm sure that they would be more than willing to help but honestly the thought of tagging a bunch of reef experts on my beginner questions is more than a little scary. On the other hand, having just one person to go to who is patient and knowledgeable and willing to help with those beginner questions would be amazing.

I love the idea of being partnered with a mentor who I could contact through PM but even if there were a different section of the forums for mentoring or a mentor tag, those would still be features that I would definitely make use of.

 

[rknott]

I feel a mentorship program would be very beneficial for both the mentees and mentors. I could use someone as a mentor that is for sure. I am hesitant to ask questions for fear it will be a dumb question and I didn't do adequate research prior to asking.

At work I have both mentees and am a mentor. The key to success is making sure the mentee is driving the relationship and the mentor is offering consistent feedback. There needs to be a clear set of rules and expectations up front so there are no misunderstandings. Part of the answer from the mentor might be coaching on how to research information on their own. It shouldn't be a help line, it should be a mentorship. Yes there are specific answers, but as many have said, one answer isn't enough. For example, I like to rely on my local shop. However, I just got some bad advice that I didn't know what bad advice until I posted on the forums. I went back and asked by guy and he acknowledged the advice I got online should be considered. There are just as many if not more that are the opposite. Further, things are evolving all the time. A lot of the videos, posts and advice are 5+ years old.

I might advocate for some sort of vetting process to be a mentor as well as a light weight review process. Something as simple as monitoring response time to emails or ????? If someone is stuck with a mentor that replies 1 time per week that would be a big bummer. I have had that happen in the past and you don't know what to do because you don't want to upset anyone. Also, the mentor needs to tell the mentee if he is being lazy and needs to do additional work on his own. Might not be okay to ask 30 questions per day.

 

[DLHDesign]

Thank you, @FishyFish for being willing to post here - really appreciate it.

I'm sure that they would be more than willing to help but honestly the thought of tagging a bunch of reef experts on my beginner questions is more than a little scary. On the other hand, having just one person to go to who is patient and knowledgeable and willing to help with those beginner questions would be amazing.

If it helps any; part of being in the Reef Squad is being able to speak with one "voice". I'm not saying that we all agree on the same methods and solutions in reefing (far from it), but that we all - to a member - agree that helping others is a major part of our membership in this community. The Squad is not alone in this on this site, but we do try to demonstrate it as strongly as possible. I truly hope that we don't come across as intimidating in any way - it is certainly antithesis to our goal if that is the case...

 

[Snuggs]

Although I started 3 years ago I am still a newbie, yes I understand the jargon, can identify the species of most coral I see . I am a newbie. Anyone want to be my mentor?

 

[SPR1968]

I'm really late to the party but as a complete noob, this post summed up *exactly* how I feel. As someone who is brand new to the hobby I find posting a thread on this forum kind of scary and often find myself wishing that I had someone, anyone, to go to with the stupid questions without fear of being laughed at or worse, misinformed. Everyone here has been really awesome and helpful so far but that fear of asking too many stupid questions has still kept me from posting more than once. The reef squad sounds like a great feature but personally, not one that I would ever consider using at this point, just because I'm so new. I'm sure that they would be more than willing to help but honestly the thought of tagging a bunch of reef experts on my beginner questions is more than a little scary. On the other hand, having just one person to go to who is patient and knowledgeable and willing to help with those beginner questions would be amazing.

I love the idea of being partnered with a mentor who I could contact through PM but even if there were a different section of the forums for mentoring or a mentor tag, those would still be features that I would definitely make use of.

You can ask any question you want and no question is stupid if you don’t know the answer, and we are all here to learn.

So ask away whatever you need to know and don’t be scared at all.

 

[Hemmdog]

You can ask any question you want and no question is stupid if you don’t know the answer, and we are all here to learn.

So ask away whatever you need to know and don’t be scared at all.

Maybe we could have a thread in the lounge
“stupid”questions from not so stupid people” . I still have random silly questions all the time that I would like to ask, but not make a thread that only ends up getting one or two responses and lost in the shuffle, especially since I’m most active at night when not that many people are on.

“Silly”questions such as, do the Pros of using moonlights outweigh the cons? Not really a dumb question, but also would make me feel sort of dumb if I made a whole thread about a topic people don’t really care about or have any science to back up their answer.
...Then I have to worry for the next few years who’s gonna look at my old threads and call me out on some other thread for being a noob for asking my moonlight questions, while I’m trying to assist a journeymen reefer. This happens to me all the time lol, I wish people couldn’t just be able to stalk everything you’ve ever said, I hate it lol, with a passion, lol.

 

[Tastee]

I was a saltwater beginner 5 years ago now, maybe 6. My closest LFS is an hour away from me, wasn't able to ask them very many questions. I would look up every single little thing on all the forums. Nobody in my family or friend circle has a salt tank to answer questions I had. The check the box for a mentor could be a great thing, or a horrible thing. In the have Alexa do your homework era, the youth don't want to figure stuff out on their own. The knowledge is out there already on the threads, you just have to put in the time searching, reading, & forming your own opinion on what might work for you. I spent a year doing research and writing things down before I even got my first tank wet. Filled an old tablet with hundreds of screenshots of stuff I liked. A reef isn't a video game that you can replay the mission every time you get killed to get that trophy at games end. For the mentor getting a mr. 20 questions every 10 minutes could become frustrating. A in depth tank start guide would be nice here, I read lots of them. To make them feel welcome enough to join the R2R family would be more important than what lights, what salt, etc. I knew nothing about saltwater and was intimidated to join because of that. I just joined this (only) forum a couple months ago because of the info and willing helpful reefers that share facts and opinions in a friendly way. If a noob catches the bug and immerses themselves into obtaining knowledge & a mentor passionate about the hobby hook up, great. Someone who wants to be told how to run a reef, urgh. Thank you RS, I've used lots of your advice over the years and glad your love of the hobby equals knowledge that some of us will never achieve, you just give freely. Sorry it got so long, just my experience. I guess to make them feel welcome to join the club and not lurk is my point if anybody writes a article.

I agree this is a good perspective. I am not a youth and started my first SW tank at 50. I didn’t spend a year beforehand on the forums but I did spend 3 solid months on them for a minimum of 2 hours a day absorbing as much information as I could before I got my tank wet. I have been on them daily for the 18 months since.

I’m not sure I would have liked a single mentor. I had lots of mentors in my journey, from LFS owner and staff through to all the wonderful folk on the forums. A single mentor, however knowledgeable, would just give me one perspective. And as said an easy out. I prefer what I have done - massive amounts of information but one point of accountability, me.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I agree this is a good perspective. I am not a youth and started my first SW tank at 50. I didn’t spend a year beforehand on the forums but I did spend 3 solid months on them for a minimum of 2 hours a day absorbing as much information as I could before I got my tank wet. I have been on them daily for the 18 months since.

I’m not sure I would have liked a single mentor. I had lots of mentors in my journey, from LFS owner and staff through to all the wonderful folk on the forums. A single mentor, however knowledgeable, would just give me one perspective. And as said an easy out. I prefer what I have done - massive amounts of information but one point of accountability, me.

I applaud your doing even 3 months of research before you started. That shows you as one type of person who 'probably' doesn't need a single mentor.

However, I was the opposite, and I think there are a lot of others, like me, out there. I saw a 30g tank for sale at a garage sale and bought it. At the time (2004) I had no idea that coral could even be kept alive in a saltwater tank. I didn't do the research, and I am basically a shy person and would be embarrassed asking stupid questions in an open forum. But back then I didn't even know any saltwater online forums even existed. Yet 15 years later look where I am, on the Reef Squad. And it seems a lot of RS members are against the idea of mentors, or find it unworkable, but I'm willing to stand my ground and support the more silent group of reefers here who think they would benefit from having a mentor!

Not everybody needs a mentor. Lets make that point very clear. But for some, it would be a very rewarding situation. And I strongly feel that if a mentor is any good at all, they will instill more confidence into a new reefer and allow them to grow and become a solid part of the R2R community. And isn't that what we really want?

 

[Tastee]

I applaud your doing even 3 months of research before you started. That shows you as one type of person who 'probably' doesn't need a single mentor.

However, I was the opposite, and I think there are a lot of others, like me, out there. I saw a 30g tank for sale at a garage sale and bought it. At the time (2004) I had no idea that coral could even be kept alive in a saltwater tank. I didn't do the research, and I am basically a shy person and would be embarrassed asking stupid questions in an open forum. But back then I didn't even know any saltwater online forums even existed. Yet 15 years later look where I am, on the Reef Squad. And it seems a lot of RS members are against the idea of mentors, or find it unworkable, but I'm willing to stand my ground and support the more silent group of reefers here who think they would benefit from having a mentor!

Not everybody needs a mentor. Lets make that point very clear. But for some, it would be a very rewarding situation. And I strongly feel that if a mentor is any good at all, they will instill more confidence into a new reefer and allow them to grow and become a solid part of the R2R community. And isn't that what we really want?

I certainly don’t disagree with this, was just chipping in with my perspective. This has been a very interesting and I hope valuable thread. And yes, I certainly agree with your last point, engaged members are a fantastic attribute.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I certainly don’t disagree with this, was just chipping in with my perspective. This has been a very interesting and I hope valuable thread. And yes, I certainly agree with your last point, engaged members are a fantastic attribute.

Thanks and I think we pretty much agree about this. It's not for everybody, but then isn't that one of the great things about human nature, i.e. that we are all different! And for some people, a single mentor they get to know and trust is the only way they would even ask a question. Not everybody is as confident and as out going as the members of the Reef Squad or many others here at R2R. After all, isn't that where and how the term 'lurker' came into being? Somebody who wanted to learn but was unwilling or lacked the confidence to ask the question of the group.

And I agree that this has been a terrific thread that has brought out some interesting and new perspectives for all of us (including the Reef Squad and Moderators) to consider.

 

[homer1475]

If anyone actually reads the forums, there is all the mentoring one needs right here and on other forums.

But what people want now a days is someone to hold their hand and tell them exactly what needs to be done. People have gotten way to lazy to actually do any real research for themselves. People want to be spoon fed the information they want.

 

[reefwiser]

I have Mentored hobbyist for years in My club. I go to their homes and do Par meter readings work thru their setup and give them ideas and thoughts on systems I have built thru the years. i have been to Macna's for over 20 years and learn a lot talking to others in the hobby.Getting out and sharing is what it is all about.

 

[Hemmdog]

If anyone actually reads the forums, there is all the mentoring one needs right here and on other forums.

But what people want now a days is someone to hold their hand and tell them exactly what needs to be done. People have gotten way to lazy to actually do any real research for themselves. People want to be spoon fed the information they want.

If I’m sick I go to a doctor, they tell me what they think is wrong and how to possibly fix it, I do what they recommend. I have always done this.
Some people search web MD if they feel sick.

There is just different types of people. Neither is incorrect.

 

[homer1475]

If I’m sick I go to a doctor, they tell me what they think is wrong and how to possibly fix it, I do what they recommend. I have always done this.
Some people search web MD if they feel sick.

There is just different types of people. Neither is incorrect.

Your missing my point.

Look at any forum(any at all on the internet) and tell me how many times the same question as been asked and answered, sometimes just a couple threads apart. 99% of the people on the internet these days are to lazy to even look at a couple threads to do their own research.

 

[Ron Reefman]

If anyone actually reads the forums, there is all the mentoring one needs right here and on other forums.

But what people want now a days is someone to hold their hand and tell them exactly what needs to be done. People have gotten way to lazy to actually do any real research for themselves. People want to be spoon fed the information they want.

Sorry, but shy, lacking confidence, not wanting to look like a fool isn't being lazy. And yes, some people like to know somebody they trust is there to help if they have issues. Some people don't need that (like you). That doesn't make the other people lazy or wrong, just different!

And given the search engines we have, sometimes it takes longer to search for it than to ask for it. It's simpler, so that's how it works. It's not wrong.

 

[Hemmdog]

Your missing my point.

Look at any forum(any at all on the internet) and tell me how many times the same question as been asked and answered, sometimes just a couple threads apart. 99% of the people on the internet these days are to lazy to even look at a couple threads to do their own research.

Lol I mean I agree with that.. a quick search isn’t to tricky. It’s just hard to find the answers your looking for a lot of the time.

 

[homer1475]

Sorry, but shy, lacking confidence, not wanting to look like a fool isn't being lazy. And yes, some people like to know somebody they trust is there to help if they have issues. Some people don't need that (like you). That doesn't make the other people lazy or wrong, just different!

And given the search engines we have, sometimes it takes longer to search for it than to ask for it. It's simpler, so that's how it works. It's not wrong.

If your that shy, don't want to look like a fool, etc on an anonymous forums where no one know who you are in real life except if you tell them. Then maybe you should stay in your little bubble of a world and shouldn't be on the internet at all.

Listen I have no problems with mentoring(I'm doing it right now with someone I met at an LFS), its the people who want to be spoon fed the right thing to do instead of trying to figure it out on their own are the ones I have an issue with. I was taught at a very young age to try and figure out issues on my own, and that is how I approach life. Only when I cannot figure it out on my own, do I ask questions no matter how stupid they are, or how stupid I feel for asking them.

 

[NY_Caveman]

There are several users here that have been reefing for many years. They often have great expertise. What intimidates them is social media and device technology. I have seen this a few times in personal conversations and we should all remember that is humbling. People may often welcome more than just reef mentoring if you see the need.