eco23
Aquarium Advice Addict
As we seem to be doing a lot recently...I agree, lol. That said, I'd personally prefer that newbies run around telling other newbies that .25 is the safe threshold, as opposed to "2.0 is safe as long as your pH is 7.4 and their temperature is at 68 degrees". As the information you provided shows, small fractions of differences can result in dramatically different consequences (not even mentioning the lack of a quality test kit or using inaccurate strips which don't provide reliable and detailed results). With something as potentially detrimental as ammonia poisoning...someone armed with only partial information without knowledge or the ability to explain it can set a dangerous precedent. As you said, when people "parrot" 
the information they've heard...it often turns into a game of telephone where the only part of the information that sticks with the novice is that 2.0 is okay...leaving out the entire conversation of free ammonia vs. ammonium.
I agree that making people believe that the world is on fire without adequate explanation is somewhat equally irresponsible in it's own way. I think that I was personally guilty myself of probably scaring the heck out of a newbie or two when I was newer to the site...and have since made a conscious effort to avoid any type of fear based guidance unless it is appropriate (which I'm sure you've seen occasionally is).
The heart of this matter, IMO, again comes down to the level of experience of the hobbyist as well as commitment and willing to lean the sciences behind what it takes to maintain a healthy aquarium. Ideally, I wish there were 3 separate guides we could link to newbies based on their understanding and, to put it bluntly...their mental capacity to understand them.
First, the younger kid who won a goldfish at the fair and has it in a bowl, or someone who without research went out and bought a 10 gallon tank and stocked it to capacity immediately because they "cycled" it for a week (by which I mean running it empty at the advice of the chain stores), and assumed it was clear sailing. Then they are on the site asking why their fish are dying and gasping at the surface. In that case...they're instantly getting linked HN1's article linked by me (which is the source of why I follow the .25 guideline). I think you have to agree that article is based on this demographic judging by the title alone.
Second, I believe there are hobbyists who have gained the basic knowledge of what the nitrogen cycle entails, and it is our duty as more experienced members to link them to the proper articles so they have the opportunity to fully inform themselves of the science and reasoning behind our initial advice and what the consequences are if not followed. That is the key to becoming a successful fish keeper IMO, both being informed of the information out there, as well as the willingness or capacity to understand and learn about it. I believe this particular write up of yours belongs in this category.
Third, there are people like us who are borderline OCD and feel it is our duty to try and lean all the info we can about the different aspects of fish-keeping. To me as well as tons of others...we get excited when we see graphs and scientific data that relate to these aspects because not only does it help us personally to become better care takers to our own fish...but it gives us the ability to share the correct info with others.
Just to digress for a moment, jcolon and I had an interesting conversation unrelated to this a few days ago. He had mentioned that there are speed limits on every road. Now, I have law enforcement in my family as well as limited experience myself and he makes a fantastic point. Speed limits are posted on every road...and they are there as a safeguard. To use it as a metaphor...a skilled, experienced driver with a high end capable car may be perfectly safe and acceptable to go down I-95 at 100mph as long as they understand road conditions, reaction time, weather related variables, etc... However, for every capable driver, there are 100 people driving irresponsibly down the road on cell phones in cars with bald tires and bad breaks with only limited knowledge of what it takes to perform at these levels that are teetering on the edge of borderline dangerous situations. So, instead of posting graphs about traffic patterns and inclement weather...they post a set speed limit. It doesn't mean it is the whole story...but it is a necessary aspect that has to be taken into account when the states make the signs and hang them on the roadway. Not the same thing...but I think you have to agree there are similarities between the two.
To sum up...I will continue to link this to any and all members that I believe can benefit from it...but for the kid with the Pleco in a 10 gallon tank...he's getting HN1's guide for now
Thanks for writing it up though, I really do appreciate and respect it...and it is an invaluable tool to countless fish keeping enthusiasts in the world.
the information they've heard...it often turns into a game of telephone where the only part of the information that sticks with the novice is that 2.0 is okay...leaving out the entire conversation of free ammonia vs. ammonium.I agree that making people believe that the world is on fire without adequate explanation is somewhat equally irresponsible in it's own way. I think that I was personally guilty myself of probably scaring the heck out of a newbie or two when I was newer to the site...and have since made a conscious effort to avoid any type of fear based guidance unless it is appropriate (which I'm sure you've seen occasionally is).
The heart of this matter, IMO, again comes down to the level of experience of the hobbyist as well as commitment and willing to lean the sciences behind what it takes to maintain a healthy aquarium. Ideally, I wish there were 3 separate guides we could link to newbies based on their understanding and, to put it bluntly...their mental capacity to understand them.
First, the younger kid who won a goldfish at the fair and has it in a bowl, or someone who without research went out and bought a 10 gallon tank and stocked it to capacity immediately because they "cycled" it for a week (by which I mean running it empty at the advice of the chain stores), and assumed it was clear sailing. Then they are on the site asking why their fish are dying and gasping at the surface. In that case...they're instantly getting linked HN1's article linked by me (which is the source of why I follow the .25 guideline). I think you have to agree that article is based on this demographic judging by the title alone.
Second, I believe there are hobbyists who have gained the basic knowledge of what the nitrogen cycle entails, and it is our duty as more experienced members to link them to the proper articles so they have the opportunity to fully inform themselves of the science and reasoning behind our initial advice and what the consequences are if not followed. That is the key to becoming a successful fish keeper IMO, both being informed of the information out there, as well as the willingness or capacity to understand and learn about it. I believe this particular write up of yours belongs in this category.
Third, there are people like us who are borderline OCD and feel it is our duty to try and lean all the info we can about the different aspects of fish-keeping. To me as well as tons of others...we get excited when we see graphs and scientific data that relate to these aspects because not only does it help us personally to become better care takers to our own fish...but it gives us the ability to share the correct info with others.
Just to digress for a moment, jcolon and I had an interesting conversation unrelated to this a few days ago. He had mentioned that there are speed limits on every road. Now, I have law enforcement in my family as well as limited experience myself and he makes a fantastic point. Speed limits are posted on every road...and they are there as a safeguard. To use it as a metaphor...a skilled, experienced driver with a high end capable car may be perfectly safe and acceptable to go down I-95 at 100mph as long as they understand road conditions, reaction time, weather related variables, etc... However, for every capable driver, there are 100 people driving irresponsibly down the road on cell phones in cars with bald tires and bad breaks with only limited knowledge of what it takes to perform at these levels that are teetering on the edge of borderline dangerous situations. So, instead of posting graphs about traffic patterns and inclement weather...they post a set speed limit. It doesn't mean it is the whole story...but it is a necessary aspect that has to be taken into account when the states make the signs and hang them on the roadway. Not the same thing...but I think you have to agree there are similarities between the two.
To sum up...I will continue to link this to any and all members that I believe can benefit from it...but for the kid with the Pleco in a 10 gallon tank...he's getting HN1's guide for now
Thanks for writing it up though, I really do appreciate and respect it...and it is an invaluable tool to countless fish keeping enthusiasts in the world.
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