For Newbys--What would happen if...?

[zoomfish1]

No one was here to answer questions? Or, you were given the wrong advice?

That's not gonna happen, but I was sitting here thinking about how many new people come on the boards every day. It's almost overwhelming. I have a lot of my advice almost memorized by now. It is a real pleasure helping you new guys and gals get past some of the mountains in the hobby.

It must be overwhelming; the amount of information needed to keep from making drastic mistakes. And all the products available, I even get confused and I'm not even buying anything.

Anyway, just my questions to you, for a change.

 

[tk1360]

lots of crying. potentially beating of breast and gnashing of teeth. I don't like to commit to any one set reaction, it makes me predictable. :rollface:

 

[tk1360]

On a serious note I think there would be alot more people confused. RC is an invalued asset and really the internet in general.

I can hardly imagine all of us sending letters to each other if we had these same problems.

Definitely alot more book reading mixed with a little trial and error

 

[Aaarrrggg]

I would never have even attempted a SW tank! I've dreamed of having marine aquarium since I was little. I big thankyou to all you vets that have made it possible, I'm hooked and loving it!

 

[zoomfish1]

Not looking for back patting or anything like that. I wonder how you would get the info you needed to make informed decisions.

As an example: I had kept freshwater and ciclids for 20 yrs. When I decided to turn one of the tanks into saltwater, I turned to my LFS. I quickly determined her objective was to get more and more of my money. Needless to say, I got some bad advice and spent double what I should have. I started reading (didn't have a computer at that time). My information came very slow.

 

[WaterKeeper]

They keep coming and coming and coming and I am sick of it! Do your part-- Help stamp out Newbies!!!

 

[zoomfish1]

Everyone knows just how serious you really are. lol.

 

[Aaarrrggg]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9431425#post9431425 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zoomfish1
Not looking for back patting or anything like that. I wonder how you would get the info you needed to make informed decisions.

I didn't think you were, I just wanted to anyway because the people on this site deserve it. Amazing that strangers on the other side of the world can take the time to answer my newbish questions that they've no doubt answered a million times before!

 

[tk1360]

I noticed after about 2 or 3 mths on RC that I was coaxing a few of the LFS staff through their lines. It was a powerful wakeup because I can remember months before seeing that person as a real source of info.

On a side note there are tons of very knowledgeable LFS employees its just that some have more experience than others. You should find them and then stalk them

 

[Victor1046]

I agree we have answers at our fingertips and I can't imagine not having this website to go

Thanks to all

 

[jdjeff58]

Re: For Newbys--What would happen if...?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9431228#post9431228 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zoomfish1
No one was here to answer questions? Or, you were given the wrong advice?

I've never been glued to my computer, on one website, in one forum, like I have been with RC in the past couple of weeks. I've been posting, but mostly reading. A work slowdown has enabled me to to this for the entire 8 hour day. I'm exhausted from it when I leave. I come home, goof around for a while, then it's back to RC. Then it's off to bed but first, a couple of pages from Paletta.

I haven't bought one thing yet. I been reading about skimmers, sumps, RO/DI, pH, temp, salinity, alkalinity, nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, tanks, sand, rock, fish, stands, lights, algae, buying used, buying new, just buying for the sake of buying, selling, WTB, and who knows what else.

It's not overwhelming at all. :eek1:

But I'm damn grateful not only for the answers I'm getting, but the terrific disposition of the people who have responded. I've been to other specialty type forums. There is a real sincere desire to help here. I don't think I've seen one instance where somebody was getting 'the business' because of their lack of knowlege on the subject.

 

[FZ1Rider]

I would listen to my LFS store a lot more (assuming there is no local group as well) and probably be pushed around more. Anyone who's seen my thread about getting a gonipora sold to me as a GSP knows how screwed out of my money would be if there weren't sites here that could help. BTW I returned that after lot and lots of reading. Got some cool Zoanthanids. Mostly brown with big orange spots in the center.

I started my tank before I knew about RC but like I said the LFS would have a lot more control over my decisions. (Oh, and I would have spent _a lot_ more money.

Good question!
Peter

 

[Redhawk44]

im in the same exact boat as you Jeff, On the "Havent bought one thing yet". I have been glued to the forums and learning as much as i can. I do have experiance in the hobby and a good bit of it. But like alot of people i fell for the LFS, make them rich, ideas. that really didnt work. I have invested 1000s into this hobbie in the past, and have nothing much to show for it, except the knowlege of things that DIDNT work.

The most IMPORTANT thing i have learned from RC, is to sit down, with a pen and pad. Plan out everything from tank size, to substraight, lights, filtration, ext. all the way down to how you plan to do your water changes and where do you plan to get your water. When you have answered all of you questions on paper, and have asked many more on the forums, then go buy your tank.

RC and the true REAL reefers have saved me ..... $$$$$$$ on a large scale.

Thanks

 

[Redhawk44]

how ever it does seem after i post the thread dies.

*sniff sniff* do i stink or something?:lol2:

 

[Reno Reef]

my first attempt at SW without RC about 3 years ago went as such.

"complete Salt Water set up" the tag said at the LFS
"Sweet" said I

20G tank
30W hood
10 lb bag of crushed coral
3 pieces of dead bleached white coral one piece colored blue
Swing arm hydrometer
AquaClear filter

Initial set up to dead fish and brown dead corals to tank torn down and placed in my garage...

4.5 months.

 

[ionredline0260]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9431437#post9431437 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WaterKeeper
They keep coming and coming and coming and I am sick of it! Do your part-- Help stamp out Newbies!!!

Sad thing is I've seen alot of people scare away new people telling them that a set up can't be done for less then $1,000. I was told it would take $1,200 to set up my 29G...I've spent $600 and it's almost complete..

 

[Redhawk44]

Im working on a 140g with 55g sump/fuge. cost is looking around 5k, but of course this will not be done all at once. im thinking around 6mo. and some DIY things and i will be done with inital set up.

but you right. marine tanks can be black holes, in many ways. Just like any other hobby in the world. You can sink as much money into it as you want. Thats why its a hobby? Dont get me started on my Target shooting hobby. My wife has welcomed me into a reef tank again.

 

[zoomfish1]

Redhawk44, at least it won't die on your post!! Oh, I almost forgot to mention, if you guys quote the Waterkeeper too much, he kind of gets the bighead. Someone on another thread called him "the great Waterkeeper". I just cringed, cause I figured the forum would never forget it. Just be careful, he listens very closely to what we all say.

 

[GreenPuffers]

you guys have helped me out a load, and I probably spent more money than I thought I needed too(lol) but my tank has benifited. I usually get pretty good advice and its nice to know Im not the only one with questions!!!

 

[Ovuel]

Re: For Newbys--What would happen if...?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9431228#post9431228 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zoomfish1
No one was here to answer questions? Or, you were given the wrong advice?...
...It must be overwhelming; the amount of information needed to keep from making drastic mistakes. And all the products available, I even get confused and I'm not even buying anything.

I hope those of you like yourself, who have your "key words and tricky phrases" memorized do realize just how much of an asset you are to the entire saltwater community.

For those like myself who have a child (or children), not only does your information help myself and those like me make smart decisions, it will help to creater better "reefers" in the long run. If it wasn't for forums like this one, this SW experience would probably end up mych like my last, dead in about 3 months time. I conqured the art of FW tanks years ago, and have kept almost every common FW fish available. I'm very excited about the prospect of not just having a fishtank in my child's room, but having a saltwater fishtank in his room. Alot of what I learned here will eventually be passed on to him once he is old enough to start doing tank maintenance himself.

To more directly answer your question, even going to the library and checking out books about reef keeping, you find that everything available was printed 7-8 years ago at best. I know I can relate, in a freshwater sense, how much the hobby has changed since I started in 2000. I know I would have an All Glass Aquarium Deluxe 15W light sitting on top of my 20L, wondering why the anemone that was so healthy at work, died 3 days after I added it.

I also hope you realize that there are some people out there like myself who are working at pet stores while they are going to school, and get the chance everyday to pass along something we learn from the vets on forums. I can't count the number of times I have refused to sell certain fish/inverts to people at work, because I learned on these forums that they are not compatible.

I know for sure that I am directly responsible for the setup of one brand new saltwater tank about every 2-3 weeks. Not because I sell people who come in all of this fancy equipment for the tank they want to start, but because I am the first one to tell people what they can get from us (Petco) and what they are better off finding elsewhere. I make sure people have a basic understanding of the cycling process and WILL NOT sell fish to anybody who has a "new" tank and didn't come with a water sample. I obviously cannot just deny people from purchasing what they want like I can with FW fish (store has a 14 day guaruntee so as employees if we feel the customers setup is inadequate we can refuse to sell). I do make sure to tell people that they are just throwing away money if they try to rush things and don't do research.

I do hope that one day when I am the crusty vet I remember all of the help I was given and decide to do the same things you guys are doing now.