Mentoring new reef keepers?

[WVNed]

I am not a my way or the highway kinds guy. My way works for me.
There are an lot of threads here where people are being told to do opposite things to solve a problem. New people cant make an informed decision based on that.

 

[Greg Gdowski]

I am not a my way or the highway kinds guy. My way works for me.
There are an lot of threads here where people are being told to do opposite things to solve a problem. New people cant make an informed decision based on that.

This is a big problem for the beginner. I'll take it one step farther... .its when those egos collide that cause significant issues.

Back to mentoring. I like the idea of creating a circle of people in each space (beginner topics, LPS, SPS, and mixed reefs) that is easily found by the beginner -- that encourages them to reach out if they have questions they don't want to voice publicly. A lot of people don't want to evoke conflict or deal with competing egos. Leave that stuff on FB -- and R2R will become the better place to come for informed personal help.

 

[Brew12]

I like the idea of creating a circle of people in each space (beginner topics, LPS, SPS, and mixed reefs) that is easily found by the beginner

Even this can be highly controversial. Who determines who is in each group? Do we find a group where the answers will all be consistent? Do we go for a variety of information and methods? Who gets to decide which methods are part of the group and which ones aren't?
We also have some well respected industry experts and very advanced hobbyists who wouldn't want to be a part of one of those groups. I'd hate to see people value their opinions and recommendations less because they are not part of the assigned group.

 

[DSC reef]

Even this can be highly controversial. Who determines who is in each group? Do we find a group where the answers will all be consistent? Do we go for a variety of information and methods? Who gets to decide which methods are part of the group and which ones aren't?
We also have some well respected industry experts and very advanced hobbyists who wouldn't want to be a part of one of those groups. I'd hate to see people value their opinions and recommendations less because they are not part of the assigned group.

Agree 100%

 

[Sod Buster]

that encourages them to reach out if they have questions they don't want to voice publicly.

Yes this. Someone with no knowledge that wants to gain it is easily intimidated by the many different methods of achieving the same result. To have all that explained to them peacefully ensuring they understand all sides of all methods. The key is for them to think about all said, form their own opinion that would be best for them, and put their plan into action with confidence.

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

This is a big problem for the beginner. I'll take it one step farther... .its when those egos collide that cause significant issues.

Back to mentoring. I like the idea of creating a circle of people in each space (beginner topics, LPS, SPS, and mixed reefs) that is easily found by the beginner -- that encourages them to reach out if they have questions they don't want to voice publicly. A lot of people don't want to evoke conflict or deal with competing egos. Leave that stuff on FB -- and R2R will become the better place to come for informed personal help.

You say egos get in the way but why not look at it as opposing opinions? I'm an adult and I can filter out nonsense when I need too. I like to have a bunch of different opinions to choose and try from and its refreshing when I see all these different methods that work for others tanks. What makes your method or anyone else's method better than the other members opinion? That sounds like an ego at play to me, IMO. I don't think its valuable to a new member to only take advice from one person as the only way to do things right. Success in reefing is trying new things, find and stick what works for you and I don't think just because a mentor said this is the correct way means an opposing way is incorrect.

 

[Dsnakes]

I understand this isn’t the ‘hands on’ mentoring you’re all talking about but I feel we have the right spot and information available with little effort.

 

[Undertaker]

I would love to have a mentor!! You can do all the research in the world and still need help from experience

 

[Gonebad395]

There are pros and cons to this we will start there.
PROS
You pass your knowledge to a newer person in the hobby, you can guided them to a more enjoyable first experience in the hobby, you can lessen the unnecessary money spent on equipment they don’t need or live stock the are ready to keep.
CONS
Your way isn’t the only way to reef. Might limit the new members activity on the rest of the forums with questions only asked to you which some other members could have benifited from also. Your way maybe the totally wrong way to do something and now this new reefer was told and taught wrong to pass this information to he next generation. Who decides who mentors who attitudes not cohesive. It can not work out and person blames you for bad advice due to tank problems. Lack of multiple views on a problem and solutions. Time student wants and mentor can’t provide.
These are just some of the pros and cons I can see
Not saying the suggestion is a bad one just one that needs to be thought out on a very large scale. I think the #reefsquad works great and to me when someone asks a question bad advice is already nipped in the butt really fast.

 

[jelena]

I would love a mentor. Granted you would get their way of doing things. But coming out of fresh water where a Google search tells you the same information of how to do a certain thing. Where as in salt water and I'm just a beginner with this, a Google search shows you so many different ways of doing a task with saltwater...you are more confused.
Having a mentor, giving you the foundation of the hobby. Sets you up on being successful and then you can branch out and learn, having a base to fall back on

 

[DLHDesign]

Where as in salt water and I'm just a beginner with this, a Google search shows you so many different ways of doing a task with saltwater...

Yup; that's saltwater for you...

(Welcome to R2R @jelena! If you have any questions, feel free to ask here; we're always happy to help. If you're unsure of some advice, feel free to add #reefsquad to your thread and we'll try to help sort it out.)

 

[Gonebad395]

I would love a mentor. Granted you would get their way of doing things. But coming out of fresh water where a Google search tells you the same information of how to do a certain thing. Where as in salt water and I'm just a beginner with this, a Google search shows you so many different ways of doing a task with saltwater...you are more confused.
Having a mentor, giving you the foundation of the hobby. Sets you up on being successful and then you can branch out and learn, having a base to fall back on[/QUOTE.

 

[Gonebad395]

@jelena Welcome to R2R please stop by this thread and introduce yourself.
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/meet-greet-forum.129/ And again glade to have you.

 

[WVNed]

LOL
I cant mentor because I don't do any of the stuff you all do.
I just do water changes. How much. Down to the bottom of my overflow box. However much that is. Once a week.

 

[WVNed]

I feel like I am cheating.

 

[Greybeard]

One of my other hobbies is reloading ammunition. Many moons ago, when I was starting out, a guy named Gary that I knew slightly volunteered to have me come by his home, use his equipment and supplies, and walk through the process of reloading, one step at a time. I was there for probably 4 hours, we loaded a 50 round box of .38 special ammo. His materials, components, and equipment. Talked to him many times over the next few months. He gave me a SOLID and SAFE introduction into the hobby. Many of the 'rules' he taught me do not exist in any book, but are simply best practices that he's arrived at after many years of practice.

Gary moved to Florida and retired years ago... I have not spoken to him in decades. I'm thankful for the time and effort he put into mentoring me every single time I sit at the reloading bench. I have made it a point, any time I hear about someone wanting to start reloading, to make the same offer. I have happily introduced a dozen or so people to that hobby, and will continue to do so at every opportunity. I've given away several hundred dollars worth of reloading components doing this... and consider it money well spent.

Mentoring is an AWESOME idea.

But

I just don't know how it would work on a public forum.

At a local club? You find someone who's tank you like, want to spend some time with that person... GREAT! That's what reefing clubs are for!

A forum? How's that work?

 

[Sod Buster]

Yes. The hands on or just sit and observe a person is a special thing. When you have the trust of the elder or expert giving you the chance to participate is gratifying. I'm a grain farmer, yes, I have another hobby similar to concentrated gasoline in a red metal pot sitting on a fire. It's not what you see on tv. That man is long gone, but taught me so much with a elementary education. I get right to the science of the yeast strain, and smoke my own malted barley now to infuse different flavors. Once you get immersed in something, you can take it as far as you'd like. It was the guy who let me be a part of the process that produced the snowball I'm at now. I see greybeards point on a public forum trying to replicate that experience, but technology has put the next reef squad generation here. I'm young enough to roll with that and help anybody starting out the best I can. Still, if I don't know something, I can admit that, do the research and experiment. This hobby involves a substantial out of pocket investment and live animals that depend on us. To help a person that is where I was at one point, I'm happy to do so. Pass it on.
Edit: why did my phone spell grey w/ a? Sorry greybeard.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Yes. The hands on or just sit and observe a person is a special thing. When you have the trust of the elder or expert giving you the chance to participate is gratifying. I'm a grain farmer, yes, I have another hobby similar to concentrated gasoline in a red metal pot sitting on a fire. It's not what you see on tv. That man is long gone, but taught me so much with a elementary education. I get right to the science of the yeast strain, and smoke my own malted barley now to infuse different flavors. Once you get immersed in something, you can take it as far as you'd like. It was the guy who let me be a part of the process that produced the snowball I'm at now. I see graybeards point on a public forum trying to replicate that experience, but technology has put the next reef squad generation here. I'm young enough to roll with that and help anybody starting out the best I can. Still, if I don't know something, I can admit that, do the research and experiment. This hobby involves a substantial out of pocket investment and live animals that depend on us. To help a person that is where I was at one point, I'm happy to do so. Pass it on.

It's kind of a pay it forward approach. That's the way I feel.

 

[MexiReefer]

#reefsquad

What would you all think of having a mentor program?

We have so many new people joining lately, many who join and their first posts are about things gone horribly awry or they are panicked and think they have.

I have been doing this all along via PM.

One reason is, we have way too many cooks stirring the pot and it confuses people.

It's best that a person pick a mentor that knows what they are doing and stick with them for a while at least to follow things to either success or someone else needing to step in.

We could do a # like #mentor to call for someone to step in.

What are your thoughts?

I need a mentor that follows DSB, no-skimmer...

 

[Greg Gdowski]

It's kind of a pay it forward approach. That's the way I feel.

Same here.