Books vs Internet.

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by Lanner, Jun 12, 2017.

  1. Lanner

    Lanner

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    I started fishkeeping in the late 80's (giving away my age ) and there was no internet around nevermind all the fancy equipment of today. Reliable information was hard to come by and you learned from your mistakes.
    Who remembers undergravel filters - or maybe still uses one, canisters was a NEW thing back then and almost unaffordable. Every few months you had to strip your tank to get all the gunk out from under the filter plates ,water changes was unheard of you just topped up your tank to replace evaporation and the lfs owner was a fish god in your eyes ah the bad old days.
    But I digress, all the information you could get was in books and a few monthly magazines from the UK that cost an arm and a leg I used to gobble up any information I could from any source and over time gained a bit of confidence in what I was doing.
    Just when I got settled in and started feeling good about myself along came the internet and destroyed all my confidence with its pictures of lavish german and japanese aquascapes highly technical data and outlandish ideas, how could a young man living in the Tranvaal get or even afford all these things, all of a sudden I felt so far behind the curve that I gave up the hobby for almost 10 years.
    In that time I took up other hobbies like archery, photography and birdwatching but none gave me the same satisfaction that I got from seeing a pair of convict cichlids building a nest and furiously defending their fry.
    One day I found a cheap aquarium and setup on the INTERNET that ruined my hobby for me and bought it on impulse, vowing that I would do it propperly this time I went out and spent and spent thousands on all the bells and whistles to do it the "right" way and soon realized that a lot of what you see on the internet is a bunch of incoherent and conflicting nonsense and the old way is still the best way, do what works for you, we never new about colour spectrums an light intensity and aquasoils ect.. but we still managed to grow plants with diy shoplights, we never had UV sterilizers but kept our water clear using corner filters with coconut hair and filter floss.
    What I'm actually getting at is dont over complicate the hobby find balance and dont believe everything you see on the net it is easy to post an article on the net claiming this and that is best (I just did it ) Trust in books and the experience of other hobbyists. Someone is not going through all the expense of publishing a book just to talk nonsence. In my oppinion keep it simple and enjoy the hobby do research but dont belive everything use your hear, trust in books and find YOUR balance.


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  3. Pierré Schoonraad

    Pierré Schoonraad Rainbow Freak

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    Wow. So happy I started when things became easier. All said the newer stuff still, in principle, does the same as the undergraval filter. Trapping the gunk. So basicly it is only easier now, mre conviniant, than then. Balans is key, look at Walsted tanks, no chemicals now wc and you have a stunning tank.

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  4. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

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    I am definately a huge fan of books.
    Must have about 120 on fish and fish keeping.
    And with my other hobbies......runs into thousands.

    The internet can be good, but it can be dangerous too.
    Mostly because anybody can post anything. And it becomes gospel
    I found this a lot when I was doing research before keeping Discus. But also in all other areas too.

    With a book, a publisher is not going to put their name to it unless they know it is coming from some sort of decent source.
     
  5. fishfanatic72

    fishfanatic72

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    I agree fully books are the best but I think the internet has good advice the trick is separating the bull from the useful information
     
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  6. Super Sywurm

    Super Sywurm

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    The good thing about the interwebs, you can get a lot of reviews on products and a lot of tips, not all that trustworthy, but a lot.

    And you get a place called www.tropicalaquarium.co.za
     
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  7. Hendre

    Hendre Polypterus freak

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    I'm part of 3 forums and read a load! Eventually I have now got to the stage where I take advice with a grain of salt and do it my own way mostly

    There's a lot to learn from but nothing is definite in this hobby
     
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  8. Super Sywurm

    Super Sywurm

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    Learning from your own mistakes is the best way of learning.
     
  9. f-fish

    f-fish #unspecified

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    Every body should read books that explains how the internet really works ..


    m2c

    Later Ferdie
     
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  10. Pierré Schoonraad

    Pierré Schoonraad Rainbow Freak

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    But why? It's boring.

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  11. MariaS

    MariaS Retired Moderator

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    I agree that there is nothing like a good book.. in fact between hobby related books and others i am running out of space!!

    I also believe that there is much to be learnt from the internet but you need to take the time to browse and read through many websites and see what is random advice and what is general consensus
    If 90 people say something is red and 10 say its pink then ja...
    Problem is that a lot of people read the first thing that comes up and take it as gospel
    There are also a lot of scientifical publications on the net but those are often too boring and long so people dont read them
     
  12. Pierré Schoonraad

    Pierré Schoonraad Rainbow Freak

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    Now you are bring up the whole black no gold dress thing again.

    Books in paper, some digital, is gold. If more people actually do the reading part before doing anything, yes even the instructions that come with the toaster, a lot of problems can be prevented.

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  13. f-fish

    f-fish #unspecified

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    MariaS, Clappies and Hendre like this.
  14. Hendre

    Hendre Polypterus freak

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    I'm an internet junkie, ask @MariaS and @Ladysphinx how busy I am on different places. 6k posts in total over 1.5 years
     
  15. Ladysphinx

    Ladysphinx

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    I read a lot. I have tested some theories some work for me some don't. I think fishkeeping is a extremely broad spectrum and you have to find your comfort zone in it. I have made massive blunder and probably still will. I think we need to listen to those who were in the hobby when we still were in diapers. Internet can give you a lot of bogus advice but I also solved some of my problems because of places like this. I have two aquarium books that have great advice but I have really learned a lot for the older fishkeepers
     
  16. fishfanatic72

    fishfanatic72

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    I agree fully with @Ladysphinx one can't beat some one with experience
     
  17. MariaS

    MariaS Retired Moderator

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    Yes.. i agree... and where do we find people's experience recorded?? TASA.. internet..

    You need to sift through the available info.. that's problem..
     
  18. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

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    That's the exact problem with the internet imo

    6,000 posts doesn't equate to high level of knowledge.
     
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  19. MariaS

    MariaS Retired Moderator

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    Oh there i agree...you can have thousands of posts and the info can be just chat chat.. depends what they all about..
     
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  20. MariaS

    MariaS Retired Moderator

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    There is a difference between being a posting junkie and actually doing serious research, make notes, compare and learn something..
     
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  21. Ladysphinx

    Ladysphinx

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    Sometimes I lurk a lot just reading. I have a birds nest for a brain though so sometimes I have an interesting time recalling what i have read.

    I read them a lot but sometimes I have no idea what I just read, that's when I keep hubby hostage and make him read it so he can explain it to me
     

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