Some Sort Of Reference Index For The Scientific Section.

[geo7x]

Hi,

I just came up with an idea that could be discussed and toyed around with perhaps.

At the moment, the scientific section seems to be going well, however once a topic has been finished with it slips down through the pages and eventually dissappears. This, IMO, is sometimes a waste of good research, debate and science that has been put into these threads.

I was thinking that perhaps once a thread has gone off, say, the first page, perhaps it could be passed by a mod into some sort of index for reference? All different threads could be split up into categories to make certain things easier to search for. This way information isn't wasted and people can see whether a question has been asked before. This could also solve the problem of questions being repeated which seems inevitable once the the scientific forum gets older.

Forgive me if it's a stupid idea but just occured to me.

 

[Bignose]

geo, It is not a terrible idea,

but, firstly are you going to volunteer to do it? That seems like a lot of work...

secondly, search can do a lot of what you are looking for. You can exclusively search the scientific section, if you chose to do so.

thirdly, it is not terrible to bring up old topics. From a personal point of view, a lot of times I've read more or new information about a topic since the last time it came up for discussion. A new thread attracts newer and/or different members. I don't mind rehashing old arguments, especially so long as search keeps working so I can find the old threads if there is no new information being brought up. But, if it has been a while or some new information has come to light, then it isn't terrible to start a new thread on an old topic.

All that said, it is a good idea. There are only 70 something threads in the scientific section right now, you could probably start an index with some broad categories and sort them quickly. Personally, only about half of them are real keepers, anyway -- the Loch Ness Monster thread doesn't need to be saved for all time, for example.

 

[geo7x]

Thanks Bignose,

I have to admit that no I wasn't volunteering necessarily (lol), I just thought that once the first lot of worthy threads (probably around 40-50 at this point) had been categorised it would only take the mods to categorise the odd thread that slipped off the bottom. I know this is easier said than done and would be a further thing piled on top of the mods' ever increasing workload but a new thread in the scientific section is only made once every week or so and due to the nature of the forum I can't see that rate increasing as new discussions have to be thoroughly considered (and passed by mods).

I know the search engine is there, but I feel some sort of index would make it a less tedious process, the search engine on here is rarely precise. I imagine it to be much like our fish index but on a smaller scale.

There is nothing wrong with bringing up old topics, you're right, but this is only one of the benefits that I previously mentioned. Furthermore, it is all very well to bring up an old topic, but I think this should only be done after looking at the previous topic first and only address issues that weren't covered or need to be clarified/updated. The index could perhaps act as a FAQ type of thing (Though not so frequent and more in depth)

 

[andywg]

I would like the mods to go back after a month or so from moving the non-scientific threads out of the forum. Quite a lot of clutter is from moved on threads having the moved sign remain.

I like Geo's idea a lot though. Nothing to stop you starting it Geo and putting some of the better threads into loose categories.

 

[geo7x]

Ok, well I'll have a think about the different categories and will return with a few ideas soon

Please keep posting further opinions/criticisms!

 

[geo7x]

Come up with ideas for all the 'better' threads in the forum at the moment and worked out some categories.

Water chemistry:

Water changes with normal parameters.
pH and co2
Substrate Gas pockets
Freshwater vs saltwater
Nitrogen cycle equation and fish waste
Ich
pH crashes


Science relating to plants and corals:

Pps classic dosing.
Do Tannins affect plant growth?


Science relating to aquatic hardware:

New tank vs mature tank
Oxygenation of water (air pump or powerhead)
Split light and algae
Uv side effects


Fish/Invertebrate biology, behaviour and care:

Fish disease harmful to humans?
Feeding beef heart.
Can saltwater fish be converted to freshwater?
Are we keeping 'lower vertebrates'?
Respiration in fishes.
Is salt beneficial?
(Ich)
Sex changing fish
(freshwater vs saltwater)
Over Stocking
Sound vs fish
Euthanasia of freshwater fish
Decapod intelligence
Why do fish blink?
Acclimation of freshwater fishes

The threads in brackets are ones that are in a different category but could be in that category as well. There are only 2 of these I think and I'm sure with further thought a category could be decided for them. I don't see any problems in repeating the odd thread in different categories anyway, but I have tried to avoid this.

I orginally had Fish/Invert biology seperate from behaviour and care but many threads overlapped (due to biology affecting fish behaviour and care and vice versa).

If your thread isn't in the list or you think a missing thread should be in it please don't be disheartened because I only had time to skim through threads to check suitability at this stage.

 

[steelhealr]

Man...you guys are gonna make my lunchtime shorter and shorter. I have no problem with it...if someone wants to 'remind' one of us from time to time. What does Andy and Bignose think of the categories? What I can do is similar to to FAQ sections....simply make a links page to old articles...maybe make a table of them. SH

 

[geo7x]

Man...you guys are gonna make my lunchtime shorter and shorter. I have no problem with it...if someone wants to 'remind' one of us from time to time. What does Andy and Bignose think of the categories? What I can do is similar to to FAQ sections....simply make a links page to old articles...maybe make a table of them. SH

Thanks SH

Yeah that sounds exactly what I had in mind

 

[Bignose]

They seem okay to me. As they get bigger, further subdivisions will be needed, but the categories are fine for a first division. Many threads will fall under two or more categories, and that is perfectly fine, even completely expected, really.

It's a better division than my bookmarks in FireFox -- they are thrown together in one "fish" category -- I've meant to clean that up for over three years now...

 

[steelhealr]

Chipping away at this. It is visible in the pinned section. SH

 

[geo7x]

OOOoooo looking very good so far.

Thanks SH

 

[steelhealr]

De nada. SH