QUESTION for the SW Vets...

Fishy Business · 07/25/2006, 09:34 AM

When the internet was invented, did you see more people get into this hobby? I cant imagine (actually I can

) what people would do without having "real time, on the spot knowledge" I know this website and others has helped me tremendously to understand (well atleast try) the enclosed salt water world.

Just wanted to know from the people who have done this for a long time if they seen a "boom" in popularity in this hobby since the internet came about.

blufish · 07/25/2006, 09:54 AM

In the "old days" if you were into this hobby you were more isolated. You'd pick up a few books or FAMA at the newstand, or talk with a few club members or your LFS, and that was it. You made your own way as best you could.

I remember when I started keeping an octopus about 16 years ago, the only other person who I knew was keeping one and could share information was a woman down in Texas.

Now you can get information instantaneously. This is both good and bad as there is a lot of just plain wrong information out there, and it instant availability encourages new hobbyist to just look for the quick fix instead of really researching the problem and figuring out why it occurs.

On the other side of the coin, the availability of really helpful information is a tremendous boon to the hobby. People like Randy, Eric, Dr. Ron, etc. who give their time to help hobbyists has tremendously advanced this hobby from the "snake oil" salesmen of the old days.

Chatting with experienced hobbyists on sites like this is also incredibly useful, and allows the sharing of information that would have been nearly impossible before the 'net.

I suspect that this hobby is as popular now as it's ever been, but I also suspect that a lot of new reefers eventually leave the hobby for various reasons, one being that they didn't quite know what they were getting into when they started.

That being said, I wish the search feature at Reef Central worked for all members all the time. It would significantly increase the signal to noise ration of this site, and maybe we wouldn't get so many posts that start off "Help! White Spots on my Tang!!" or "What are these little bugs in my tank??"

sir_dudeguy · 07/25/2006, 10:30 AM

ya it definately helps and hurts to have information so available...ideally people will read everything and research completely before making decisions...however i see lots of people even on here just get one or 2 questions answered and jump right in, instead of getting ALL questions answered.

but i'm greatful for this site, as its definatley helped me, and its what got me into saltwater. but i do agree about the search thing...it just seems kinda lame that not everyone can search...that would save about...100 threads a week lol at least.

jgoodrich71 · 07/25/2006, 10:45 AM

I was lucky in that when I started getting serious about this hobby, I already had a few "experts" near me that I learned everything from. I would constantly talk with them and we would borrow books from each other. Now it is easier to get more up to date information than back then. It would take a few years to get a book written and published. By the time people got around to buying it, it was already a bit dated.

Compared to when I started, there are many more people in the hobby now. I used to know pretty much everyone in my city that had a reef tank. Now I probably know less than 1/4 of them.

Fishy Business · 07/25/2006, 03:19 PM

I for one am very thankful I stumbled upon this site. Very imformative and VERY opinionated.

All I know is, I am now obssesed with my tank (can be confirmed by my fiance) and want only the best for my friends.

The internet is saving fish. Go figure.

07/25/2006, 09:34 AM	#1
Fishy Business Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 537	QUESTION for the SW Vets... When the internet was invented, did you see more people get into this hobby? I cant imagine (actually I can ) what people would do without having "real time, on the spot knowledge" I know this website and others has helped me tremendously to understand (well atleast try) the enclosed salt water world. Just wanted to know from the people who have done this for a long time if they seen a "boom" in popularity in this hobby since the internet came about. __________________ Here to pick your brain and pick-pocket myself at the same time.

07/25/2006, 10:30 AM	#3
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	ya it definately helps and hurts to have information so available...ideally people will read everything and research completely before making decisions...however i see lots of people even on here just get one or 2 questions answered and jump right in, instead of getting ALL questions answered. but i'm greatful for this site, as its definatley helped me, and its what got me into saltwater. but i do agree about the search thing...it just seems kinda lame that not everyone can search...that would save about...100 threads a week lol at least. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

07/25/2006, 10:45 AM	#4
jgoodrich71 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 849	I was lucky in that when I started getting serious about this hobby, I already had a few "experts" near me that I learned everything from. I would constantly talk with them and we would borrow books from each other. Now it is easier to get more up to date information than back then. It would take a few years to get a book written and published. By the time people got around to buying it, it was already a bit dated. Compared to when I started, there are many more people in the hobby now. I used to know pretty much everyone in my city that had a reef tank. Now I probably know less than 1/4 of them. __________________ "For some reason I can't blow right." ~ crp "By the way Brian, nice colon." ~ Orchids Current Tank Info: 65 gal reef

07/25/2006, 03:19 PM	#5
Fishy Business Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 537	I for one am very thankful I stumbled upon this site. Very imformative and VERY opinionated. All I know is, I am now obssesed with my tank (can be confirmed by my fiance) and want only the best for my friends. The internet is saving fish. Go figure. __________________ Here to pick your brain and pick-pocket myself at the same time.

07/25/2006, 09:54 AM	#2
blufish 10 & Over Club Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: SoCal Posts: 212	In the "old days" if you were into this hobby you were more isolated. You'd pick up a few books or FAMA at the newstand, or talk with a few club members or your LFS, and that was it. You made your own way as best you could. I remember when I started keeping an octopus about 16 years ago, the only other person who I knew was keeping one and could share information was a woman down in Texas. Now you can get information instantaneously. This is both good and bad as there is a lot of just plain wrong information out there, and it instant availability encourages new hobbyist to just look for the quick fix instead of really researching the problem and figuring out why it occurs. On the other side of the coin, the availability of really helpful information is a tremendous boon to the hobby. People like Randy, Eric, Dr. Ron, etc. who give their time to help hobbyists has tremendously advanced this hobby from the "snake oil" salesmen of the old days. Chatting with experienced hobbyists on sites like this is also incredibly useful, and allows the sharing of information that would have been nearly impossible before the 'net. I suspect that this hobby is as popular now as it's ever been, but I also suspect that a lot of new reefers eventually leave the hobby for various reasons, one being that they didn't quite know what they were getting into when they started. That being said, I wish the search feature at Reef Central worked for all members all the time. It would significantly increase the signal to noise ration of this site, and maybe we wouldn't get so many posts that start off "Help! White Spots on my Tang!!" or "What are these little bugs in my tank??"