Mentoring new reef keepers?

[dantimdad]

As an advanced aquarist that is a "noobie" to this crowd.... Let me throw in some noobie insight.

1. Reefsquad --- sounds like mod squad, police squad etc, etc... it does not sound like Mentor squad or advice squad. Quite frankly, I thought they were moderators.

2. Where is the list? How would I even know who those people are unless I happened to see one of their posts with a banner under their name?

3. #reefsquad..... really -- we expect a noobie to know to put that in a post. That sounds like.... I'm calling the moderator to intervene on this post.

Thanks for this post. You have a beautiful reef!

 

[crusso1993]

As an advanced aquarist that is a "noobie" to this crowd.... Let me throw in some noobie insight.

1. Reefsquad --- sounds like mod squad, police squad etc, etc... it does not sound like Mentor squad or advice squad. Quite frankly, I thought they were moderators.

2. Where is the list? How would I even know who those people are unless I happened to see one of their posts with a banner under their name?

3. #reefsquad..... really -- we expect a noobie to know to put that in a post. That sounds like.... I'm calling the moderator to intervene on this post.

@Greg Gdowski - but it was a good show!

 

[Ron Reefman]

JacquieBeginnerReef, Foohill Corals, Greg Gdowski, excellent points all!

 

[shred5]

#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 suggested this years ago so yea I think it is a good idea.
ReefCentral had one and it worked great.

It allowed you to pair up with a person and help them through private messaging or email etc. for a little more detail and hand holding.

I could see why a site would not want it though, It would reduce post counts for the forum...

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

I suggested this years ago so yea I think it is a good idea.
ReefCentral had one and it worked great.

It allowed you to pair up with a person and help them through private messaging or email etc.

I could see why a site would not want it though.. It would reduce post counts.

How dare you mention that other place here! lol

I still like the concept, but the logistics I think are one thing that would get in the way.

However, the more I think about it, (if it wasn't for paid supporters with the same title) I say would should call them "Sponsors" so every newbie could be like "Hello, I'm Js.Aqua.Project, I have been addicted for 6 years..."

Back on track though...maybe during the sign up process there could be a question/section where people could list what specific things they would like to learn about and it would provide them with a shortened Sponsor list (see what I did there?). This I think would require volunteer mentors to be grouped by area of interest so that anyone wanting a mentor could reach out to that list. So instead of a single mentor it would be more like a support group structure [insert argument for taking away from general community]. Maybe mentor groups are structured to include 4-5 mentors with different strengths and any mentee could add a hashtag or have a selection option to alert their mentor group (wouldn't this be like when you "watch" a forum though?).

(Still think this is ReefSquad 2.0 but doesn't mean it might not be useful)

 

[Brew12]

1. Reefsquad --- sounds like mod squad, police squad etc, etc... it does not sound like Mentor squad or advice squad. Quite frankly, I thought they were moderators.

3. #reefsquad..... really -- we expect a noobie to know to put that in a post. That sounds like.... I'm calling the moderator to intervene on this post.

Looks like we need to do a better job highlighting the Reef Squad. Many of the moderators have come from the Reef Squad but their roles are very separate. Reef Squad members have no moderating ability. They are hobbyists who dedicate their time to helping R2R maintain a friendly culture and offer advice to those seeking it.

2. Where is the list? How would I even know who those people are unless I happened to see one of their posts with a banner under their name?

There isn't a formal list, but there is a "Meet the Reef Squad" stickie where many members of the RS have posted information about themselves.

We obviously need to do a better job highlighting these volunteers and making sure new members know how they can be of assistance.

 

[HotRocks]

While this has turned into quite the debate, I still personally think we are splitting hairs between mentorship and RS. It's one in the same. Any member can reach out to any mod/RS/member at any time.

Threads may get heated sometimes due to some of the passion people have about this hobby.

If we all agreed that there was only one way to do something in this hobby this place likely wouldn't exist. The diversity is what makes R2R so great IMO.

@Brew12's example of the disease forum topics is a very good one IMO. I bring this up as it is where I spend most of my time here at R2R. We have many great threads that have participation from people at all skill levels and the public exposure hopefully leads to helping other hobbyists properly QT fish to the best of their ability with all of the proper tools and knowledge at hand!

 

[WVNed]

One obvious solution is to write a new " How to set up a reef tank" geared toward a small tank that most people seem to start with.

Keep it simple to what works with a new tank for a beginner.

 

[Brew12]

One obvious solution is to write a new " How to set up a reef tank" geared toward a small tank that most people seem to start with.

Keep it simple to what works with a new tank for a beginner.

I've thought this in the past, too. And I could never figure out how to keep it simple. Mixed reef? AIO? SPS dominant? Bare bottom? Triton method? Balling method? Kalkwasser? The conclusion I've come to is the best that can be done is to write a "What I do" article that people could follow. Even something that feels like it should be simple, such as flow, has so many variables. Shape of the tank, corals kept, rockscape all play a part in what type of pumps will work best.

 

[Ron Reefman]

While this has turned into quite the debate, I still personally think we are splitting hairs between mentorship and RS. It's one in the same. Any member can reach out to any mod/RS/member at any time.
I agree, but I never ever considered doing that before I joined the Reef Squad and found out, more or less, how it works.

Threads may get heated sometimes due to some of the passion people have about this hobby.
And this is what keeps some people, especially new people, away from posting at all.

If we all agreed that there was only one way to do something in this hobby this place likely wouldn't exist. The diversity is what makes R2R so great IMO.
And having a mentor in no way eliminates the multiple lines of thought or technique. It's just guidance, not unbreakable rules!

@Brew12's example of the disease forum topics is a very good one IMO. I bring this up as it is where I spend most of my time here at R2R. We have many great threads that have participation from people at all skill levels and the public exposure hopefully leads to helping other hobbyists properly QT fish to the best of their ability with all of the proper tools and knowledge at hand!
I think all mentoring is aimed at start ups, not something as sophisticated as fish disease. That's just not an example that applies (IMHO).

 

[dantimdad]

How dare you mention that other place here! lol

I still like the concept, but the logistics I think are one thing that would get in the way.

However, the more I think about it, (if it wasn't for paid supporters with the same title) I say would should call them "Sponsors" so every newbie could be like "Hello, I'm Js.Aqua.Project, I have been addicted for 6 years..."

Back on track though...maybe during the sign up process there could be a question/section where people could list what specific things they would like to learn about and it would provide them with a shortened Sponsor list (see what I did there?). This I think would require volunteer mentors to be grouped by area of interest so that anyone wanting a mentor could reach out to that list. So instead of a single mentor it would be more like a support group structure [insert argument for taking away from general community]. Maybe mentor groups are structured to include 4-5 mentors with different strengths and any mentee could add a hashtag or have a selection option to alert their mentor group (wouldn't this be like when you "watch" a forum though?).

(Still think this is ReefSquad 2.0 but doesn't mean it might not be useful)

Awesome!

A 12 step program. Do I get my 30 year token?

 

[WVNed]

You can have a nice tank with

a tank
good water
good flow
good light
water changes
good live rock
heater
hardy beginner animals

Once you can do it with that then you move to that other stuff. It also wont break your budget to find out if this is for you.

 

[shred5]

I think all mentoring is aimed at start ups, not something as sophisticated as fish disease. That's just not an example that applies (IMHO).

Agreed

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I think it's going to come down to anyone new to Reef2Reef, would have the option for personal contact with one Mentor. One-on-one communication.

 

[Ron Reefman]

You can have a nice tank with

a tank
good water
good flow
good light
water changes
good live rock
heater
hardy beginner animals

Once you can do it with that then you move to that other stuff. It also wont break your budget to find out if this is for you.

And here is the issue, even something as simple as your recommendations would have lead me to a heater. I live in South Florida and I need a chiller long before I need a heater. WVNed, PLEASE don't take offense, I'm just picking at this to show how difficult it is to get it simple and easy and right!

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

@HotRocks @Brew12 maybe the initial welcome email for signing up can include common hashtags and how to use them? Just thinking it might get things used more often. As well as a stickie (maybe there is one of these I haven't seen)?

Trying to think back to when I was new here and I think that is something I would have found useful in that welcome email.

 

[Brew12]

I think all mentoring is aimed at start ups, not something as sophisticated as fish disease. That's just not an example that applies (IMHO).

I'm not sure I agree with this. I was lucky in that I found R2R before purchasing my first tank. I started doing QT from day 1 and it has worked fantastic for me. I still have many of my original fish 2+ years and a tank transfer later.
I see new reefers struggle with fish loses due to diseases in their systems and are now behind the figurative 8-ball. This can be very demoralizing. I am not one who believes that QT must be used. I do feel that if QT isn't used than other actions must also be taken to ensure safe and healthy fish. Those pathways are best started on day 1 imo. It's hard to tell someone who hasn't QT'd but feels it is important now that they have to catch every surviving fish and put them in a different system for over 2 months.
To me, the beauty of something like a mentoring program is that it can be more comprehensive, especially if started prior to the tank being set up. One issue I feel we run into is that reef tanks are complex systems. You can have 2 completely distinct methods of setting up and running a reef tank. That does not mean you can mix and match the different parts of those methods and still have success.

 

[Brew12]

@HotRocks @Brew12 maybe the initial welcome email for signing up can include common hashtags and how to use them? Just thinking it might get things used more often. As well as a stickie (maybe there is one of these I haven't seen)?

Trying to think back to when I was new here and I think that is something I would have found useful in that welcome email.

I've been reviewing some things and there is less out there than I had thought. We have room to improve. Lots of room to improve. I'm very glad that this thread has brought this to our attention.

The welcome email is a great first place to look. I'm also thinking we need to do a better job with stickies in more areas. We can get better.

 

[Captain Quint]

Mentor

noun
an experienced and trusted adviser: "he was her friend and mentor until his death in 1915" synonyms: adviser, guide, confidant, confidante, counselor, consultant

verb
advise or train (someone, especially a younger colleague).

With all due respect to everyone here at R2R, MHO is we are all in this together in one way or another regardless.

 

[Fourstars]

I do get tired of all the depressing emergency, everything's dead posts. It make me not want to come on here.