What are my thoughts when I post?

[brewmaster15]

Al, i'm really touched by your passion for discus and how hard you try to carry out the mission of this forum. for that, i will try to post more on this forum as my way to support you and this hobby.

Frankie, Thank you very much! I really appreciate your comment here and your goal to participate more. I could not ask for more! Thank you!

[Johanna]

I've just now seen this thread for the first time and noticing it's from the time when I joined the forum (feels like forever ago). First, it just needs to be said (again) that I wholeheartedly agree with the previous poster! Al and also the rest of the SD mods etc are doing a great job and it's astonishing to me that someone would put so much effort into educating others, archiving the experiences and wisdom and acquired knowledge for free and public use.

Second, after reading the whole conversation I want to bring up a point mentioned earlier in this thread. Al, you were wondering about making the forum more active, and someone (sorry, can't remember for sure who it was) said discus keeping on this forum appears to be all about breeding and could benefit from more focus on just keeping discus; showing display tanks etc. I don't necessarily agree with the notion that it's all about breeding but I've wondered MANY TIMES how the 'gurus' here keep their own fish. What do their display tanks look like - not just the breeding pairs and fry or brand new arrivals or grow outs. Naturally, people post pics of the things that are new and interesting to them (the fry, the new fish etc) but for a new discus keeper looking to set up a tank or making their existing discus tank a better home for their fish -- the most useful information and interesting resource would be seeing well-functioning examples of the regular old community (or species only) tanks of the experienced discus keepers.

So I want to urge all of you people here who kindly offer your advice to us newer hobbyists, please post pictures and descriptions of your own tanks! Even though there seems to be quite a strong consensus among this forum on the best practices, I'm sure some interesting discussions could also come from it. Every tank is different and it would be interesting to see them.

[brewmaster15]

I've just now seen this thread for the first time and noticing it's from the time when I joined the forum (feels like forever ago). First, it just needs to be said (again) that I wholeheartedly agree with the previous poster! Al and also the rest of the SD mods etc are doing a great job and it's astonishing to me that someone would put so much effort into educating others, archiving the experiences and wisdom and acquired knowledge for free and public use.

Second, after reading the whole conversation I want to bring up a point mentioned earlier in this thread. Al, you were wondering about making the forum more active, and someone (sorry, can't remember for sure who it was) said discus keeping on this forum appears to be all about breeding and could benefit from more focus on just keeping discus; showing display tanks etc. I don't necessarily agree with the notion that it's all about breeding but I've wondered MANY TIMES how the 'gurus' here keep their own fish. What do their display tanks look like - not just the breeding pairs and fry or brand new arrivals or grow outs. Naturally, people post pics of the things that are new and interesting to them (the fry, the new fish etc) but for a new discus keeper looking to set up a tank or making their existing discus tank a better home for their fish -- the most useful information and interesting resource would be seeing well-functioning examples of the regular old community (or species only) tanks of the experienced discus keepers.

So I want to urge all of you people here who kindly offer your advice to us newer hobbyists, please post pictures and descriptions of your own tanks! Even though there seems to be quite a strong consensus among this forum on the best practices, I'm sure some interesting discussions could also come from it. Every tank is different and it would be interesting to see them.

Johanna,I think we already do post how we keep our non-breeding tanks. Just need to look at the tank Journals. I think most of the regulars do. They run the range from bare to sand/wood biotopes, to planted.

The problem is what alot of people think of as "Display Tanks" do not fit with what peoples whose focus of breeding is. Every tank I maintain here with few exceptions is bare for ease of care, optimal health, and longevity. .. My Display tank is a tank that Displays Discus. .. its not meant to display plants or scape or pots of plants nor multiple other species many of which are not from Discus waters. A display is something you set up to bring you joy. Nothing brings me more joy than seeing a bunch of healthy discus swimming around... my empty glass box doesn't take away from the discus. It focuses the attention on the fish. Its not for everyone but honestly A display tank can be a bare glass tank where I display my fish.

I realize its not something most people think of when they think of a "display tank".. but then again.. when I think of Discus in a display tank.. I don't think of Heavily planted tanks. That to me is a problem waiting to happen. Its truly a "to each is own" thing. But I really don't think we focus on breeding here.. very very few members actually breed their fish most are keeping them in a group. I think breeding is so rare and cool though that when someone does attempt it,the few of us that have experience pull out the stops trying to help them in the hopes they succeed and others try.

For me, I need healthy adults to continue the projects I care about. The more variables you add to a tank of Discus the more chances for a problem. This is true without a doubt.. so I avoid it and keep my adult tanks as simple as possible . Hope that helps you and others understand my perspective and what I am pretty sure is the viewpoint of those of us that focus on the Discus primarily.

[John_Nicholson]

What are my thought when I see you post.......man this could get good....lol. I don't remember how many years ago that I left but it has been quite a few for sure. I always liked you and the forum but left because I disagreed with one of your policies. Now it is your forum and you have the right to run it as you see fit and I used my right to just leave. I doubt anyone even noticed. I felt the need to drop back by because of all of the really, really bad information that keeps popping up on facebook. It is really sad how much ground the hobby has lost. Like you I always tried to educate the best that I could. On facebook if you try to provide education you are swarmed by 10 people saying you are wrong. Most have been in the discus hobby about 12 minutes...lol. I will be 60 in December and when I get closer to retirement I will probably build another fish house so I decided to get over myself and drop back by. Not sure how active I will be but assume when you read this you will laugh your arse off.......

[Jandiscus]

It is thanks to this forum that I ran out of things to post about. Everything is up and running, my fish are healthy, my water change regiment runs flawlessly and all I do these days in this hobby is looking at a problem free discus fishtank. This comes on the back of a long journey of mishaps, reading of 1,000+ of posts on simplydiscus and receiving direct input from the long-term experts and moderators on this forum. This forum goes beyond just discus. There is plenty of useful tips and recommendations on equipment for your tank. Oh, there is one thing I need to be doing since I am on my last bag of fdbw......buy more fdbw from Al's store :-)

[brewmaster15]

What are my thought when I see you post.......man this could get good....lol. I don't remember how many years ago that I left but it has been quite a few for sure. I always liked you and the forum but left because I disagreed with one of your policies. Now it is your forum and you have the right to run it as you see fit and I used my right to just leave. I doubt anyone even noticed. I felt the need to drop back by because of all of the really, really bad information that keeps popping up on facebook. It is really sad how much ground the hobby has lost. Like you I always tried to educate the best that I could. On facebook if you try to provide education you are swarmed by 10 people saying you are wrong. Most have been in the discus hobby about 12 minutes...lol. I will be 60 in December and when I get closer to retirement I will probably build another fish house so I decided to get over myself and drop back by. Not sure how active I will be but assume when you read this you will laugh your arse off.......

I honestly had to do a double take and re-read your post John. I literally choked on my dinner. I honestly didn't think you would be back. Figured you just joined the facebook brigade. I did notice you left us though, just figured I ticked you off .

On facebook if you try to provide education you are swarmed by 10 people saying you are wrong. Most have been in the discus hobby about 12 minutes...lol

yep.. which Is why I don't post on it. I prefer it here.

Hope you find the time to stop by, theres really good people here. Its a bit different here from when you were here before but its also alot calmer.

Welcome Back John,

Al