What if we're all full of mulm?

[GaryE]

I see a lot of new aquarists posting desperate questions and getting quick answers they accept immediately. We want answers.
But what if the answers we get and give are wrong? 25 years ago, I was pretty confident in my aquarium knowledge, after 30 years with fish. Now, after 56 years, I am struck by how little I actually know in comparion with what I can learn. I think that's a natural progression in learning - we tend to gloss over how complicated things can be, and when we're new at things, we want to feel confident and certain.

Don't trust us.

Sometimes, I see people answer who are less experienced than the person asking the question, but very certain in their writing style. How can you sort out who knows and who looks like they know?

Read the explanations why and see what you would conclude from them. If you are answering, take that extra few minutes to explain your logic. There is incredible knowledge and experience here, but it takes a slightly critical eye to see who is who, and what is what. We're always going to be exploring this together.

 

[Archerfish]

Sort of like a case of we don't know what we don't know! Back when I was writing for the aquarium trade, I was appalled to find how much 'garbage' is stated as fact. I never would write about anything I didn't keep or had not personally kept in the past. For example, I was given an assignment to do a feature about the American-Flag Fish. Much of what I found in books and good grief the net, was simply copied. Range of distribution comes to mind. @GaryE, you are spot on with your comments. Look at how many times we have been in a pet shop and overheard an employee promulgating the stupid, Inch of fish, 'Rule.' Anyway, good post by GaryE.

 

[10 Tanks]

I see a lot of new aquarists posting desperate questions and getting quick answers they accept immediately. We want answers.
But what if the answers we get and give are wrong? 25 years ago, I was pretty confident in my aquarium knowledge, after 30 years with fish. Now, after 56 years, I am struck by how little I actually know in comparion with what I can learn. I think that's a natural progression in learning - we tend to gloss over how complicated things can be, and when we're new at things, we want to feel confident and certain.

Don't trust us.

Sometimes, I see people answer who are less experienced than the person asking the question, but very certain in their writing style. How can you sort out who knows and who looks like they know?

Read the explanations why and see what you would conclude from them. If you are answering, take that extra few minutes to explain your logic. There is incredible knowledge and experience here, but it takes a slightly critical eye to see who is who, and what is what. We're always going to be exploring this together.

Hi Gary. Good point. I've always relied on specific books. In particular those by David Boruchowitz. He's been keeping fish since the 1960s and I don't think there's an author alive today whose been keeping them longer. You can definitely believe what he says about the water keeping hobby.

10 Tanks

 

[Slaphppy7]

"What if we're all full of mulm?"

Mrs. Slap suggests that I am, quite frequently, but she has a more colorful term for "mulm"....

 

[GaryE]

Hi Gary. Good point. I've always relied on specific books. In particular those by David Boruchowitz. He's been keeping fish since the 1960s and I don't think there's an author alive today whose been keeping them longer. You can definitely believe what he says about the water keeping hobby.

10 Tanks

I used to work with David Boruchowitz. He's a nice guy, as well as a knowledgeable one.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

You are in for a treat re long time fishkeepers. Rosario La Corte and his wife were at the 2019 NEC weekend and I was in the vendor room. I donated my meal tickets to his wife. He has been keeping and breeding fish for 70+ years. He was one of the panelists on the Breeder Round Table Q&A after the Friday night dinner. One of my club's members is a master breeder and was on the panel.

edited to change bender to vendor- DOH

 

[connorlindeman]

Sometimes, I see people answer who are less experienced than the person asking the question, but very certain in their writing style. How can you sort out who knows and who looks like they know?

If I ever answer a question sounding confident, it's because I am. I also do my best to get accurate information.
Nothing wrong with someone with less experience sounding confident imo.

 

[GaryE]

The thing I admire the most about Mr LaCorte is not how long he's bred fish for. It's how inventive he has been to solve the puzzles newly found species presented to him. I've always seen his work and heard his talks as an expression of how much fun it is to use your mind in this strange little hobby of ours.

I have known other 70 years in the hobby people, but most played it safe in terms of what they tried. Not Rosario LaCorte (whom I have only met in passing twice). He figured out a lot of very perplexing fish.