my hydrometer

[Blaine]

I realize that...but the purpose of the thread was to help the guy who started it first. If he wants to go off like that and right wrongs and fight injustice, etc it would be better served in it's own thread. Then he can elaborate as much as he wants. I was worried about a single person who obviously needed assistance, not gobs of irrelevant info.

[Pufferpunk]

The OP can use us as a cafeteria--take what you need & leave the rest. No reason to get hot over too much information.

[puffermichigan]

Ok, I had to say something! There are so many people who read these threads and are able to expand their own knowledge because of the helpful information provided to others. A forum really doesn't function but for the input of many members--some general information, some specific information--all designed to both help the OP and to inform the general readers of the forums. If it were simply a personal conversation with the OP it could take place through PM, and the richness of input from the community would be lost.

I have no doubt that Blaine's info was able to help OP in his/her immediate situation (results-oriented), while RTR's clarification was helpful to many readers who may wish to more thoroughly understand the process, including perhaps OP if he/she is interested (either now or upon future reviews of the thread). In general, I think that encouraging discussion and more information (even if it may seem "irrelevant" to any one person, at any given time) is a wonderful way to have a lively, multi-faceted, informative forum. Just my two cents, sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here. I just had to take the chance to explain why I absolutely love and read this forum regularly instead of other forums.

[Pufferpunk]

You're response was perfect & appreciated!

[RTR]

Then why are there so many folks who keep fish so poorly?

There is a huge gap between insufficient info and too much, and this hobby suffers very badly from widespread ignorance. Some hobbyists do not even know that bacteria require food to stay alive...

Most folks with normal intelligence or even a good bit below that level can learn a lot more than most folks seem to realize. Those who think the insufficient information is adequate are never good teachers. IF students or hobbyists understand the biology of their tanks, they are far more likely to be able to manage their tanks easily because they do understand a bit of what is happening in them and why. Good teachers challenge their students. Poor teachers give them insufficient information to operate or understand their tanks, so hat they are at the mercy of next idiot who gives them orders without teaching understanding. A hobby, or a school, is not a production line. It is, or should be, an interesting and potentially lifetime learning experience - not just the instruction to tighten bolt A on assembly B when it moves into place in front off you.

[greenspottedlover]

Yah I mean I've gotten to the point where when I upgrade my tank I was thinking of getting a plenum in it. I did like the extra info.

[Blaine]

Blaine, That's just plain rude!
~Jeni/PP

[nehctik]

As the hobbyist that didnt know about the bacteria needing food (it makes sense now but it didnt occur to me before) I can see both points of view, On the one hand general knowlege like blaine gave can be very helpful in the short term, where are the more in depth advise given by RTR will be more help in the long run.


I dont think theres any such thing as too much information, I think it just comes down to the person learning and their capacity to learn the info.
For example I will only be keeping Dwarf puffers for a long time, but I still look through all the sections hoping to learn so if I ever do get the chance to branch out I have the knowlage to do so plus its interesting.

Yes when RTR told me about feeding the bacteria I felt like a huge idiot for not realising about it, but I very much appreciated the help and the information.

Now ive prattled on for a bit i'll get to my point, we're all here to learn from and help each other, Yes sometimes we may get each others goat, or even be wrong sometimes, but thats the beauty of the forum there will be someone here to show you are wrong and teach you the correct way.

SO I would think the OP appreciates both your advise and knowlege

[Pufferpunk]

Yes when RTR told me about feeding the bacteria I felt like a huge idiot for not realising about it, but I very much appreciated the help and the information.

Not to worry--in the 32 years I've been keeping fish (8 if them was in the industry), I only learned about this 12 years ago, when I finally got a computer. That knowledge could have prevented a lot of loss in those 20 years...

[RTR]

LOL! If PP thinks thinks were bad 30+ years ago, she should have been in SW 50+ years ago. We had no clue and almost no test equipment. If had not been a lab rat, I would have had no idea what was going on.