This forum 😃

[Atitagain]

I just wanna take a minute and say how amazing this forum is. The information that is so easy to search for and access is a huge library of sorts. The platform is so easy to use even for an inexperienced operator like myself. The help offered by the mods and customer service is leaps and bounds above any other company I can recall that I’ve ever dealt with. The community is so welcoming and supportive it makes even me comfortable to ask what I think are silly questions. And finally I would like to sincerely thank all the members who take the time to give such thought out and informative responses, inspire me in ways that make me wanna learn and inspire others, and are concerned about problems not only in the hobby but above and beyond. 
Brian from Indiana 

[Streetwise]

Cheers @Atitagain! I think folks really keep the kind and helpful ideals in mind when participating. Our hobby is about keeping things alive while we care for them, and that is true of the forum.

[Odd Duck]

I completely agree with @Atitagain.  This forum is exceptional!  I’ve been a member of assorted fish forums for YEARS and have never found one that is so consistently kind and helpful.  There is always someone ready to help.

The admins and moderators do a fantastic job of setting the tone and making sure things stay friendly, even with controversial topics.

This is the first forum that I’ve ever felt comfortable enough to actually post pictures of any tanks, let alone my failed tanks, knowing it is encouraged as a learning experience for others.  I’m not exactly a fragile flower, either, I just don’t seek out controversy or confrontation (I have enough confrontation and stress in my work life already).

I think that speaks very well for the atmosphere in the forum that I never felt like I would get criticized for my tanks or opinions, even the disaster tanks.  It’s the first forum that I even cared enough to bother posting pictures and wanted the other members thoughts and opinions.

There are decades of experience and knowledge here and members that choose to share that experience and knowledge in the kindest way possible.  It’s the best thing that’s happened to my fishkeeping in decades!

[KentFishFanUK]

This is the first forum I've been a part of but I have looked through many different forums posts whilst researching various fish or aspects of the hobby (plus other hobbies). 

It's so nice to have a forum that when someone asks about care of a fish the first 5 responses are actually helpful, not just "in future do your research before purchasing a live animal please" (like come on get off your high horse already) half the time they don't even add anything constructive to it so they literally only replied to put someone else down and it irks me even though it's not aimed at me and I'm reading it years later haha I feel like sticking up for the poster then I see the thread is 3 years old and the moment had probably past. 

So yeah not to hate on other internet spaces but this is by far my favourite place.

In addition to it being a nice place in general there are a select few people who always seem to take the time to reply to me and others in such a nice and helpful way it's the same names always popping up for me, won't mention who here but I'm sure they know who they are, it's very much appreciated guys!

😄

[GameCzar]

All the cool kids hang out here.  😉

[Atitagain]

On 9/4/2021 at 8:26 AM, KentFishFanUK said:

This is the first forum I've been a part of but I have looked through many different forums posts whilst researching various fish or aspects of the hobby (plus other hobbies). 

It's so nice to have a forum that when someone asks about care of a fish the first 5 responses are actually helpful, not just "in future do your research before purchasing a live animal please" (like come on get off your high horse already) half the time they don't even add anything constructive to it so they literally only replied to put someone else down and it irks me even though it's not aimed at me and I'm reading it years later haha I feel like sticking up for the poster then I see the thread is 3 years old and the moment had probably past. 

So yeah not to hate on other internet spaces but this is by far my favourite place.

In addition to it being a nice place in general there are a select few people who always seem to take the time to reply to me and others in such a nice and helpful way it's the same names always popping up for me, won't mention who here but I'm sure they know who they are, it's very much appreciated guys!

😄

Yes exactly the community here is amazing. Like you said I haven’t been part of to many forums especially fish related except just google searching and reading what’s posted. And to many times it’s those places had the non helpful, making fun of, degrading.🤮

[Guppysnail]

I have never been part of any forum or social media but reading some fish forums I thought I made the right choice. I lurked here for a bit afraid to post or interact for fear of the nasty on the internet.  I quickly came to realize this forum is different.  It is the kind and helpful to newcomers and old timers alike that I enjoy. I have found so many ideas I NEEDED that I did not even know I needed 😁 it’s all about the fish, we were all newbies once and the more new folks that join the hobby the more commercialism will come up with new and exciting things. 

[Tanked]

As usual, I'm a little late jumping in here; life tends to get in the way.

This forum is as close to social media as I'm willing to go.  This is mainly because the guidelines are pretty straightforward, and all opinions and ideas are welcome.  There is a lot information on these forums.  Some of it I don't fully understand, and some of it I just can't use.  I can however glean small pieces of information from almost every post I read, and I do appreciate it.

[Flumpweesel]

It was so hard to get help when I had a poorly goldfish so many forums just yelled pond at me and spent their energy making me feel like I was cruel and negligent. Luckily the car forum my partner is in did have friendly folk and they got us through some tricky periods. But the fish forums would just get nasty so it is nice to find a safe place online. Hopefully I won't have to admire anyone's new alloys here either.

 

[Streetwise]

I feel really at-home here. I get to talk about my organic topsoil tanks without anyone telling me that I am doing it wrong. We have a very helpful and positive community. Nerms love to learn and share!

[Atitagain]

It’s been 6 weeks since the original post on this thread and still almost every day either I learn something new, get inspired, see compassion, get a laugh, see a new fish/ plant, hear about new technology/ process/ methods, I could make this list much longer. Above all that it’s the interaction between the members in such helpful and caring way that makes this such a wonderful community to be a part of.

[CalmedByFish]

One thing I enjoy about the forum is the opportunity to live vicariously through others. Like with reading a book, I can imagine the experiences I'm reading about, getting a taste of them without devoting energy, money, space, risk, or even much time. It helps me see what I enjoy most, so I can prioritize and get a good pleasure:work ratio in my real life.

[PineSong]

I appreciate the positive atmosphere, too. It is a very valuable gift to give people when you provide a place where they can say "I actually have no idea what I am doing here, please help me!" and not get a judgy response. 

[Patrick_G]

Our local Seattle Aquarium Society Facebook page is really friendly too. I’m sure there is some sort of connection since it’s the club Cory came up in. I’m just not sure if the positive attitude of the club members influenced him or the other way around. Probably a bit of both I guess. In any case I’m glad this forum was started with positivity and encouragement in mind. 

On 10/16/2021 at 4:19 PM, Flumpweesel said:

Hopefully I won't have to admire anyone's new alloys here either.

😆 We have some car nerds here too! I bet someone is dying to post a pic of their new alloys!

[OnlyGenusCaps]

I just wanted to say that I recently found out about an incredibly kind thing Cory did for someone here in Minnesota not long ago.  I don't think I truly understood what a genuinely nice guy Cory is (not knowing him after all) until I heard about this.  It really does seem that the kindness on this forum is found all the way to the top.  Hats off to Cory for starting a place with the intention of maintaining civility, and to the admins, moderators as well as the members for working so hard to make that goal a reality.  On the internet of all places! 

[lefty o]

On 10/18/2021 at 8:53 PM, Patrick_G said:

Our local Seattle Aquarium Society Facebook page is really friendly too. I’m sure there is some sort of connection since it’s the club Cory came up in. I’m just not sure if the positive attitude of the club members influenced him or the other way around. Probably a bit of both I guess. In any case I’m glad this forum was started with positivity and encouragement in mind. 

😆 We have some car nerds here too! I bet someone is dying to post a pic of their new alloys!

im getting old, if i could figure out how to upload photos made on paper and ink.  i do have a few second video of one of the old engines running, but not a clue how to put that on a forum.

[Atitagain]

On 10/27/2021 at 12:45 PM, OnlyGenusCaps said:

I just wanted to say that I recently found out about an incredibly kind thing Cory did for someone here in Minnesota not long ago.  I don't think I truly understood what a genuinely nice guy Cory is (not knowing him after all) until I heard about this.  It really does seem that the kindness on this forum is found all the way to the top.  Hats off to Cory for starting a place with the intention of maintaining civility, and to the admins, moderators as well as the members for working so hard to make that goal a reality.  On the internet of all places! 

These type of things I’ve heard about and listening to him talk, I believe him to be honest. He always finding ways to give back to the hobby community and education is top priority. You can see examples of his generosity from the small fish keeper (care packages for members) up to top well established you tubers (helping @Zenzoredo his fishroom) An example that really struck me is @Wel-Don Tankswas in process of redoing his fishroom and for no reason other than to help boost a small channel. @Corysent him a care package and a linear air pump. Something about that really spoke volumes to me about his true intentions even as a business man.

[Zenzo]

On 10/27/2021 at 11:46 AM, Atitagain said:

These type of things I’ve heard about and listening to him talk, I believe him to be honest. He always finding ways to give back to the hobby community and education is top priority. You can see examples of his generosity from the small fish keeper (care packages for members) up to top well established you tubers (helping @Zenzoredo his fishroom) An example that really struck me is @Wel-Don Tankswas in process of redoing his fishroom and for no reason other than to help boost a small channel. @Corysent him a care package and a linear air pump. Something about that really spoke volumes to me about his true intentions even as a business man.

I didn't know I was a "top well established" YouTuber! 😄

[Atitagain]

On 10/27/2021 at 2:57 PM, Zenzo said:

I didn't know I was a "top well established" YouTuber! 😄

Most certainly in my opinion you are. Your videos got me out of a lot of bad spots, especially with African cichlids. Your fishroom has influenced a lot of decisions ive made in style, stocking, and maintaining “My Aquatic Vivariums”. I don’t know the numbers of who is actually a top you tuber but I only watch 4 different channels. ( on regular basis)

[Patrick_G]

On 10/27/2021 at 11:57 AM, Zenzo said:

I didn't know I was a "top well established" YouTuber! 😄

😁 You’re totally the top SF based, Cichlid centric,  M3 driving FishTuber! 
My 18 year old daughter even got hooked on your puffer vids. 

[CT_]

On 10/27/2021 at 4:45 PM, Patrick_G said:

😁 You’re totally the top SF based, Cichlid centric,  M3 driving FishTuber! 
My 18 year old daughter even got hooked on your puffer vids. 

And the only fish-tuber than can bench press other fish-tubers.

I think I found Zenzo's channel after watching the video where he jumps into Cory's pond. 

[Torrey]

On 9/4/2021 at 11:48 AM, Guppysnail said:

I quickly came to realize this forum is different.  It is the kind and helpful to newcomers and old timers alike that I enjoy. I have found so many ideas I NEEDED that I did not even know I needed 😁

Yes!!!! This part.

After having the covid related stroke in February, I stopped interacting in a lot of places. It's hard to acknowledge that plants I have literally kept for decades, I can't remember the names any longer. I can look at a picture of a plant on good brain days, and know what the plant needs carewise, but I was more embarrassed about forgetting identification of plants and fish than I was about forgetting people's names😅

@Cory, @Randy, @Streetwise, @Candi, @Irene, @JimmyGimbal, @Dean’s Fishroom and all the rest of the staff, mods, and support personnel have done something that feels miraculous in this day and age of outrage marketing:

Recreated my learning experience when I first got in the hobby of a kind, supportive, [more] informed group of people willing to be vulnerable enough to develop meaningful relationships. 

 

Thank you. 

Everyone who contributes to the atmosphere in here, keeps me doing the work I do in the real world, despite my disabilities.

My spouse just called me in to take a follow up picture of our nerite, Houdini. Wish I could record their laughter. 

According to my spouse, nerms are great people because we are willing to keep actively learning.

Apparently, my spouse believes more people should take lessons from Houdini. 

 

 

 

[Houdini <back center glass> is an active escape artist, so now lives in a tank with a locking lid. Yes, tank needs maintenance, I am healing from another post-covid flare]

 

My spouse said even Houdini knows don't poop where you eat, a lesson that would benefit many according to my spouse.

[Houdini crawled out of the water to poop on the glass🤣]

The backing of this tank is indicative of how long I have been in the hobby.🤪

[Streetwise]

Much love, @Torrey!

[Flumpweesel]

On 11/1/2021 at 8:43 PM, Torrey said:

The backing of this tank is indicative of how long I have been in the hobby.🤪

Love the back of your tank it has a real grannys house vibe to it. 

Sorry you've had such a rough time, I'm sure there plants and fish will forgive you not knowing it's name if you know how to keep it healthy. 

[OnlyGenusCaps]

So, I am a rescue puppy here from another fish forum.  And I couldn't be more happy about having this community as a resource and as support; to keep me going when I fail; to celebrate with me when things go well.

All of this was put into stark contrast when I revisited a forum for another interest of mine recently.  There, any decision is met with 50% or more of people telling you how you have done something in the wrong.  Because there is an accepted dogma of what is "right", even though as we all know around here there can be many acceptable ways to accomplish a goal.  It's disheartening to work hard on something and then share it there, only to be questioned and undermined for any decision that deviates from cannon (typo stays as it's funny and evokes the firing squad feel of sharing on that site). 

Here though, there is something magical people do.  When anything in particular isn't to their taste, or of particular interest, even just at the moment, they - and this is the magic part - move on.  I don't know why that seems so hard for people to do other places.  Indeed, not doing something seems to me to be the easier approach.  Yet, for some reason people in other places feel the need to go to the effort to gripe, complain, and belittle someone for things that don't impact them.  I do think that's part of the difference between here and much of the internet.  The quiet civility of not.  Of letting live.  Of letting go.  It seems when people recognize that not every thought needs to be uttered, kindness and support can grow in a community.  Perhaps it is restraint that the core of civility itself?  I am just very thankful for that, and this place this morning.