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Just trying to see if there are any planted tank people around. This forum was once the one to go to, but it has seemed to have been dying. So where you at at where are you going?
Is there anybody out there?
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Over the last 10 or so years most kids have stepped away from forums and have used social media instead. Social media to them is faster even if the information is less accurate.
Many leading forums for many hobbies of mine have slowed down, people arent jumping to any new forums they just arent using them as much in my opinion.
Many leading forums for many hobbies of mine have slowed down, people arent jumping to any new forums they just arent using them as much in my opinion.
It also doesnt help that we are being hit by popups right and left right now due to an issue with the forums advertisers which is making it very hard to make a single post. I had to reload this page twice to make this post. Which isnt exactly very appealing to attracting new members... ugh.
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6,877 Posts
The traffic has decreased a lot on this forum since I first discovered it. There are still plenty of planted tank people around. If you have something specific, maybe try posting in a more general forum. You're posting in the local Colorado forum and leaving out the rest of the world.
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Actually, it's the Kansas sub-forum. Which makes it even stranger, since no one posting is even from Kansas
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Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore. :laugh2:
This forum isn't dying, but it definitely has lost something. I'm in NY and that sub-forum was wildly popular .. until they all went to FB. I prefer this forum but even I'm not as active as I used to be. I'm a long-time member so I was here to see the rise and the fall in popularity.
This forum isn't dying, but it definitely has lost something. I'm in NY and that sub-forum was wildly popular .. until they all went to FB. I prefer this forum but even I'm not as active as I used to be. I'm a long-time member so I was here to see the rise and the fall in popularity.
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181 Posts
I too prefer forums but whether it’s the longer form nature (which I prefer as it lets us get in depth) or that the interface isn’t as clean and modern as apps, forums definitely seem to be on the decline unfortunately. I don’t use FB and begrudgingly use Instagram, but i find IG is very surface level and curated pics.
I feel like reddit is a good compromise, it’s got good activity and you can get a bit deeper but has more modern UX: r/PlantedTank.
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I feel like reddit is a good compromise, it’s got good activity and you can get a bit deeper but has more modern UX: r/PlantedTank.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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96 Posts
Hate deep Fake Buke. I troll several forums. WA Fish Box, MFK, shelldwellers, the cichlid forum and here.
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5,719 Posts
I tried Reddit: r/PlantedTank --but, didn't care for it. ( Same with Facebook, Instagram). It may have a more modern interface which appeals to many, but I could not get it to work for me. With "work" I mean give me the satisfaction that I receive from a forum type format. I need the feel of "a community"- no other interface gives that to me as well as a forum-based model. Not saying that others cannot find this on social media, but it is not the format for everyone.
Im also tend too be very long-winded.
I believe that when you answer someone's request for information, for instance, in a post about fish health/illness- you tell the whole story: when, why, how, - not just what. Look at Facebook and you will know what I mean. Someone posts a picture of a sick fish and you get 5 different 2-3 word answers ( Its Ich! That is columnaris! Thats fungus!).
I can rarely help someone out with a picture alone. It takes questions to find answers, not just pictures.
While its true --overall --that forums have lost many to social media type apps/formats, this does not make them a "dying" format. That implication irks me.
Why? Because there are a large group of people that have/do consistently come back to this forum daily ( sometimes several times daily), weekly, monthly, for the last 3 years Ive been on TPT. We know each others aquarium struggles, successes, projects. Some of us even go further- we communicate regularly through PM to get to know one another or even visit with one another beyond this virtual format.
This forum is still a living, thriving community. It may have lost some members to social media-- but, that doesn't mean it has lost its value.
Well worded Discusluv!
I agree that the more successful and dedicated hobbyists generally stick to the forums in my experience. Facebook, pinterest, etc. are chock full of nice pictures and auto-generated content. You definitely get quicker responses, but they're mostly regurgitated from something else. Not a tailored solution.
The funny thing is that while the forums can be a bit slower (interface and more time spent reading responses) some social media platforms actually take up more time. It's easy for me to spend an hour or 2 on facebook but I usually don't come out of it with a sense of "I helped someone or learned something myself".
I'll stick to forums for the time being - though I'm by no means saying that will be the case forever. There's plenty of regurgitated content and people refusing to do any research themselves so they post the same questions over and over hoping for the typical social media response "Fix your algae issues forever with this one simple trick".
I agree that the more successful and dedicated hobbyists generally stick to the forums in my experience. Facebook, pinterest, etc. are chock full of nice pictures and auto-generated content. You definitely get quicker responses, but they're mostly regurgitated from something else. Not a tailored solution.
The funny thing is that while the forums can be a bit slower (interface and more time spent reading responses) some social media platforms actually take up more time. It's easy for me to spend an hour or 2 on facebook but I usually don't come out of it with a sense of "I helped someone or learned something myself".
I'll stick to forums for the time being - though I'm by no means saying that will be the case forever. There's plenty of regurgitated content and people refusing to do any research themselves so they post the same questions over and over hoping for the typical social media response "Fix your algae issues forever with this one simple trick".
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181 Posts
Totally agree Discusluv I didn’t mean to say that there is no more value in forums, just that they’re not the primary method to access community these days and I’m saddened by that. But I still do come back from time to time as I still prefer them, and I’m glad others continue to find value. Maybe they won’t die but just “evolve”.
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Agreed.
I am on several FB forums. If someone reaches out to me personaly, I direct them here.
A planted tank requires a more in depth nuanced discussion than what you can get there.
I feel sorry for folks who ask questions and get a barrage of nonsense from folks who are just repeating what they have read.
And more importantly, it's the sense of community that you mentioned. I consider many here to be my friends, and I look forward to hearing from them and following their journeys.
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5,719 Posts
This could be true. The younger generation has grown up in a far different world than I did.
And I say that without judgement as to which is "better"-- change is necessary to the times. And, in the end, if that change doesn't provide a generation with what they need ( in this case, the means to communicate effectively) they either go back or move forward to something else.
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550 Posts
I don't consider myself a "kid" at 25, but I'm sure some would. I'm also very comfortable with social media so participate both here and on groups on Facebook. This forum isn't dead by any means, but groups on social media do tend to be a little more lively.
As previously said, information on here can be more accurate, I think due to a few factors:
a) Most users on here have more experience whereas many of the groups on social media are flooded with beginners (some more open to reason than others)
b) There's more space for detailed discussion
c) Threads are easier to follow, which encourages those who care about the subject to post more, which encourages dedicated hobbyists etc.
I guess it's down to the individual whether they'd prefer to wait a while for more accurate information or maybe a challenging discussion, or whether they'd prefer to have a barrage of information very quickly but much of that may well be completely false. That said, I cannot praise the admins in one of my FB groups enough as they have an incredible amount of knowledge, dedication, and patience, whereas some of the advice I see on here makes me wince and there are certain topics I just completely avoid. I still much prefer this site over all though :smile2:
Essentially, there's pros and cons to both types of forum in my personal opinion, but it's not as clear cut as one being better than the other and it doesn't just come down to age.
Edited to add: There's actually a lot of older people in the facebook groups I frequent. Some are brilliantly helpful and knowledgeable. Some defend horrendous fishkeeping with the excuse "I've been doing it for years."
As previously said, information on here can be more accurate, I think due to a few factors:
a) Most users on here have more experience whereas many of the groups on social media are flooded with beginners (some more open to reason than others)
b) There's more space for detailed discussion
c) Threads are easier to follow, which encourages those who care about the subject to post more, which encourages dedicated hobbyists etc.
I guess it's down to the individual whether they'd prefer to wait a while for more accurate information or maybe a challenging discussion, or whether they'd prefer to have a barrage of information very quickly but much of that may well be completely false. That said, I cannot praise the admins in one of my FB groups enough as they have an incredible amount of knowledge, dedication, and patience, whereas some of the advice I see on here makes me wince and there are certain topics I just completely avoid. I still much prefer this site over all though :smile2:
Essentially, there's pros and cons to both types of forum in my personal opinion, but it's not as clear cut as one being better than the other and it doesn't just come down to age.
Edited to add: There's actually a lot of older people in the facebook groups I frequent. Some are brilliantly helpful and knowledgeable. Some defend horrendous fishkeeping with the excuse "I've been doing it for years."
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4,307 Posts
One thing I have noticed are people who joined the forum 5-10 years ago and have just a few posts are now starting/restarting tanks and posting again. Life gets in the way and now it has again, but with the opposite effect.
Many of these "newbies" are also restarting threads that they don't at first realize are from the Bush era :hihi:
Many of these "newbies" are also restarting threads that they don't at first realize are from the Bush era :hihi:
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