How And Why Did You Join This Forum?

[mark.w.jones]

When I joined this forum 2 years ago. I had read a couple of fish keeping books, asked for advice at my LFS and thought I was a pillar of knowledge in fishkeeping. However, I kept wondering why the 4 goldfish I stocked my 10 gallon tank with kept dying . So having searched on google for fish forums I found this one and soon discovered that for 4 goldfish the minimum tank size is really 40 gallons +. I also discovered that leaving my tank running empty for 4 weeks before adding my goldfish did not infact "cycle" it as I had been advised.

I now have a fantastic 125 litre (33 US Gal) planted tank that looks stunning in my humble opinion, (need to update my sig. pic as its grown out loads), and its all thanks to the guys on here who have turned me from numpty to modestly knowledgeable.

 

[emmsy]

I joined this forum because although I care about all living creatures, fish are my favourite. All other forums have about 3-4 posts an hour like MFF and others. This forum attracts a worldwide audience as opposed to a local one, and input from real experienced fishkeepers. I am using this experience to learn off these people and hopefully share my experiences.

Emma

 

[Helen G]

I too liked the rate of posting. Also the people on here really seem to know what they are talking about.

 

[WILDER]

This thread would of been better in tropical discussion.

 

[waterdrop]

I began looking at this forum in Dec.2007 and joined in Jan2008. I knew that my knowledge of fishkeeping needed updating and I stumbled on the text of various threads here while searching google for various bits of information.

As a young person I had a basement full of dozens of tanks and a "show" tank or two upstairs. I successfully bred both livebearers and egglayers. I was a frequent hang-out at the LFS of my small town and avidly read any fishkeeping books I could get my hands on. This was all throughout the 1960's after my dad had set up our first little tank in the 50's. This all stopped with college and in the 70's, 80's I only had an occassional single tank and no new learning, then nothing at all from the mid 80's on.

When TFF caught my attention I had already decided that web forums were a useful and fun way to learn about things. I had spent a year on one researching which car to buy and then another year on one researching which TV to buy. This is my first experience with a web forum being about a more ongoing hobby. I was experienced enough with web forums to know to look at the numbers of posts and of members - you have to have very high traffic to sustain conversation and to get answers to your questions in a usable time frame.

What really hooked me though was when I realized that some of the "mysteries" of the 1960's (like new tank syndrome) were now much better understood and that there were actually some tiny bits of science that had been done and could be applied to the hobby area and that in fact there had been a growing movement since the 80's to apply these glimpses of science in a better and better way to create in effect a body of practical knowledge for the fishkeeping hobbyist. This new practical knowledge is just so much better than what I had access to before!

At times I feel very embarrassed as I clearly have a problem of talking too much for a "beginner" to this new knowledge and I sincerely apologize for that to the the many here who are long-time fishkeepers, many with very many more years of more intense experience in the hobby and with a much greater claim to this being their forum where they have provided help for many years. Anyway, I guess I am an example that you don't have to be young to get excited about something!

Another thing I like about this forum comes from the curious mix of UK folks and US folks (with a fair smattering of other international folks appearing at times too!) Here in the US, the culture has continued race in the direction of more and more activity with less and less patience and thoughfulness. I know that has happened everywhere to some extent but with UK culture there seem sometimes to be ways that that culture is able to resist some of this better than we do - I don't know, do you think I'm naive in making that generality??

Oh well, back to business. Today, this weekend, is my big chance to add substrate and plants and make a change to my tank situation. Time to shut up and actually do something!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Million]

I bought a shrimp and wanted some advice - over 100 posts later and i'm still here

...and I still don't know why my atya gabonensis is so shy!

 

[newfishy]

I came for advice when the tank we got for ours sons birthday kept having the fish die. Yet another case of craptastic advice from an lfs. I stayed because there are people who really know their stuff and if I cant find an answer myself, its only a post and question away.

 

[aaronnorth]

i saw someone post an answer on 'yahoo answers' saying look here and i did

 

[shelaghfishface]

i joined as i fancied a fish tank, so went a got a 4ft, some neons, left it 2 days then went and got sharks,gouramis,guppies,.....then i needed to know about them, so i think i googled tropical fish, and have never looked back, with the encouragement i have had off this forum i started to love everyting about fishkeeping, when my first platys had babies, i went mental.. got thru it with members from here"5teady"( the births not the mental state!!) but all the advice i have recieved has been ( unbeknown to me at the time) so so valuable,and when i have had fish emergencies,Wilder has had the patience with me and seen me right through the whole thing, i have had a look at other forums, but they dont even come close to TFF ,have found new friends,had a laugh, learned tonnes,and having the time of my life ( she says with what sounds like Niagra falls in the background lol)

shelagh xxxx

 

[debbie888]

hi

I joined as I bought a tank, and really did not have a clue what was involved,,,,and had a problem with a tank and googled about a bit as you do...and ended up here...glad I did as it is a minefield of information...if you cannot find a topic on what you want to ask, then there is always someone with knowledge and experience to answer a question.

Its great.

Debbie

 

[jkrekord]

I joined as i was looking for somewhere to be able to talk fishy with other people interested.

 

[craig663]

Good Q,

Googled "fish forums" like most folks !

Really we all love fish !

Advice is always welcome, wether your starting out or mastering the art !

Ps has anyone ever seen a LFS with good fishkeeping guides on the tank ~ even the "every pet in here sheds" dont have it !

Can I campaing for the Fish Information Service & Help, eg a wee label on the tank saying "best enviroment ~ in grps 6 or more" - " will grow to 6" in 2 yrs"

So far ive learned loads ! oh and dont wait for the store guy to tell you jack !

:stupid:

 

[sic0198]

I really don't know how I found this site. I think I was looking for info on something unrelated and this site popped up.

I saw it on here and thought it looked interesting.

 

[lil.guppy]

I joined to help people as much as I am able to.
I also am still trying to learn salt water, and excel in cichlids.

 

[holidayinn]

i joined when we bought a secondhand tank with an oscar in it, we took it home, filled the tank with water and turned everything on..the nx day went to see a dads mate and he told us about conditioning the water, water changes, filter + media etc...i was quite startled at how much there was to know...he told me about this forum, and how he was alwyas on it and available to help...altho dont think i've come across him here, this is my first stop for anything to do with my fishes