[ACE]

We should create a saltwater FAQ thread ,,,for example

---------------------
Q;;;;;; How many pounds of live rock do you need per gallon of water???

A;;;;;; It is recommended to have at least 1 to 1.5 pounds of live rock per gallon.

(FACT)
The moor live rock you have in your tank the better filtration you will have.
---------------------

---------------------
Q;;;;; How many pounds of live sand do you need per gallon of water???

A;;;;; It is recommended that you have 1 to 1.5 pounds of live saned per gallon.

(FACT)
Live sand is the best substrate for the saltwater
aquarium it helps filter the water and is the best substrate for fish and inverts.
---------------------




How about it

[e_baer]

I think that is is a great idea! The only problem is, is that people will start posting there and it will get off topic. But if there was some way to make it a one on one kind of thing, or maybe only designated people can answer.....that sort of thing.

Great idea!

[ACE]

E-baer, I totally agree.

Well,,, if you have to send your input via PM to a designated person or person's for them to post it in a locked form that mite work.

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by ACE

E-baer, I totally agree.

Well,,, if you have to send your input via PM to a designated person or person's for them to post it in a locked form that mite work.

Yeah definately! I really like this idea. It is a great way to relay information from person to person! Especially for the newer people who have a lot of questions.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Getting the questions would be no problem.Its getting agreement on the answers thats a problem lol.

[ACE]

We just need to get a team of people on our side, AKA people that we can send a PM to, who will post our input to a locked thread.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

I dont like to be negative but at the same time I like to remain rooted in reality.So it is with a great deal of sadness that I have to say,we have stickies at the begining of the forums for all to read,and judging from the questions that come to us they are either not being read or they are not being understood.So I will ask how much effort are you willing to put into this?

[e_baer]

Id put in a bunch of effort into this! I think this is a terrific idea. But whoever wants to do this, we would all have to brainstorm for ideas how to make it work.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Elliott, I think it is a wonderful idea.I just felt compelled to give you a reality check.

[e_baer]

lol....yeah I definately understand what you are saying and I definately agree with you. But I just think this would be another neat resource for some.

[ACE]

I am willing to put a lot of effort in to this to.

Native I totally agree but I also think that some people would benefit from this.

[glampka]

Have you guys checked the "Guides" section of the forum???

[rlcline76]

There seems to be different facts for different groups of people. The Textbook FAQs. The marine biologist FAQs. The long time hobbyist FAQs.

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by glampka

Have you guys checked the "Guides" section of the forum???

Hmmm. That is some very useful advice under there. I still think it would be good to get up a FAQ kind of thing for the people who may have some more detailed questions. Of course we, as a group, would send them to that section first but if they have more questions that are not answered in the guides section that is where we would come in and answer the questions they have. Then possible if some good questions are asked and are not covered under the "guides" area, we can add it so it to the section so it is easy to find for future questions.

[ACE]

Originally Posted by e_baer

Hmmm. That is some very useful advice under there. I still think it would be good to get up a FAQ kind of thing for the people who may have some more detailed questions. Of course we, as a group, would send them to that section first but if they have more questions that are not answered in the guides section that is where we would come in and answer the questions they have. Then possible if some good questions are asked and are not covered under the "guides" area, we can add it so it to the section so it is easy to find for future questions.

I think that a FAQ form, of question's not covered by the guides section would be a step in the right direction.

Considering that most of the questions that people have are already answered in the guide section we just need to direct people to that section.

[glampka]

How many times does a question have to be asked to become "frequently" asked?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

The truth of the matter is I am having trouble thinking of a question I havnt been asked 10 times.

[e_baer]

It could be specific questions like:

how many inches does it take to have a DSB?

or

what is the best sort of sea grass to grow in an aquarium?

[e_baer]

I have an idea that maybe a member can answer each question. ie: native would answer a question about lighting, becky about disease, so on and so forth. We all have different levels of knowlege in different areas.

What do you all think?

[rlcline76]

I got your PM. Thank you for thinking of me, but I don't think I could easily compartmentalize disease. If I find a way, I'll post it in the disease forum, though.

[jimw369]

Sorry, I have to comment.

Lets whip out a bigger spoon. Lets see...we have Teamspeak, we can PM anyone here on the site, we have Reef Builders Magazine, we have info under the Reef Information Link, some really good stickies, a thread "Guides for Saltwater" and I almost forgot a whole site with tens of thousands of posts dedicated to answering most questions people could have. O yeah, and a search feature to find what you are looking for if you feel RB worth the $24.

FAQ...sure cant hurt. Might as well repeat what we have already repeated.

Cartoons next?

[e_baer]

Well what I am thinking is instead of guiding people to OTHER sites, why not just keep them here on this site to find all the info they need withought asking questions. We are constantly giving out sites saying go research it here and there. But what if they are only curious and want to look up some info just for fun? They will easily be able to go to the FAQ and then find the info.

[jimw369]

[QUOTE=e_baer;58467]Well what I am thinking is instead of guiding people to OTHER sites, why not just keep them here on this site to find all the info they need withought asking questions. We are constantly giving out sites saying go research it here and there. But what if they are only curious and want to look up some info just for fun? They will easily be able to go to the FAQ and then find the info.[/quote]

So...just to be clear...you are saying direct them to a place here on RB instead of a link to some other site and they will be more apt to look at it even though both would probably require the same amount of effort and the material still has to be read once the person gets there.

What about all the info that is already here that answers all most of these ???s.

Do we have a preferred reading list somewhere. I know we talked about it sometime ago and I see a thread with some links in it but nothing organized. Doesnt that fall along these lines?

As for directing people off this site for further info, yes, every chance I get. There is a much bigger world out there for saltwater enthusiasts and the salt sites should only be part of a well rounded education regarding the hobby. This hobby is about meeting new people and listening to more ideas both new ones and old. Restrict yourself to one method of education and you are really limiting yourself.

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by jimw369

[QUOTE=e_baer;58467]Well what I am thinking is instead of guiding people to OTHER sites, why not just keep them here on this site to find all the info they need withought asking questions. We are constantly giving out sites saying go research it here and there. But what if they are only curious and want to look up some info just for fun? They will easily be able to go to the FAQ and then find the info.

So...just to be clear...you are saying direct them to a place here on RB instead of a link to some other site and they will be more apt to look at it even though both would probably require the same amount of effort and the material still has to be read once the person gets there.

What about all the info that is already here that answers all most of these ???s.

Do we have a preferred reading list somewhere. I know we talked about it sometime ago and I see a thread with some links in it but nothing organized. Doesnt that fall along these lines?

As for directing people off this site for further info, yes, every chance I get. There is a much bigger world out there for saltwater enthusiasts and the salt sites should only be part of a well rounded education regarding the hobby. This hobby is about meeting new people and listening to more ideas both new ones and old. Restrict yourself to one method of education and you are really limiting yourself.[/quote]

Your right, I phrase that last responce wrong. What I am trying to get at is that we would have the basic simple answers, then followed by a link. Like this:

How often should I do a partial water changes?

Most commonly a 10% change is carried out weekly or bi-weekly. Many experts think a water change is only necessary to replenish the lost trace elements and minerals that are used by the growing coral. Another consumer of the trace elements is the protein skimmer. It is essential to replenish these trace elements in a reef tank so the corals can grow and stay healthy.
Water Changes

[jimw369]

Well Elliott, it mgiht help some folks I guess.

If the mods and Ryan (maybe just Ryan) want to take the time to organize this info then I say go for it.

Could make a nice project for Elliott. Yes?

If you could gather up say 50-100 FAQ and answer them like you say, categorize them somehow and ship it off to Ryan.

I elect Elliott to spearhead this endeavour!

One more thing...What if someone disagrees with your answers? Maybe you could post several answers to each question so all bases were covered.

My first FAQ is: What light should I buy for my tank?