New members who do not post or engage.

Seems like lots of ppl are signed up and semi active in relation to viewing threads. My question to those who are new (most relevantly in # of posts), why don’t you guys post? Either threads or responses to threads. It appears that many are familiar with forums (lots of for sale threads with minimal posts), but don’t seem to want to participate here.

Trying to buy a house in this crazy market. Promise I'll be more active (and update my build thread) when this horror show ends!

Completely understand having priorities and... my bigger question is for the lurkers.

I'm local to San Diego, so for the most part I stick to SDR. I like to poke my head in Socali and R2R when I want to expand my horizons and see what others have to offer in way of info and corals.

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

You have 55 posts so there has been some engagement. What prompts you versus not? I always try and help if I can. I would do the same on R2r until I stopped going on for personal reasons

Quite a few of the threads on here are decently long, such as peoples tank builds. So to engage, I'd feel compelled to read all of the posts in that thread so I have an idea of what I'm speaking on. Since they are long, I end up not engaging. For the most part though, i like the aspect of reading and learning by skimming through threads. I do the same on R2R. I try to narrow down what I'm specifically Interested in, or sometimes i get sucked in by the title (clickbait) haha.

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

Honestly, I can understand why someone doesn’t post too often. IMO it’s lack of activity on this site. To give you an idea there is only two others threads going that don’t have to do with selling things today.

So if someone needs to get post count up, there really isn’t a lot to chose from, unless they just start making stuff up to post.

Totally see this

But this is kinda why it’s that way. Because no one engages or tries, it becomes Craigslist and a place for scammers

I also am more active on SDR & R2R, but I’d love to actively post on here since I check on this forum almost everyday. I guess what’s holding me back is it seems the only threads going on this forum are sale threads, or something that inevitably leads to arguing (like the political threads that were popping up a while back). So I guess the question is what and where would you like us (lurkers) to post? I’d be stoked to share photos of corals, talk about systems or do anything else reefing related that will help revive the forum; but there’s really not much for people to create “meaningful posts on” right now unfortunately.

It’s all up to you guys. You can talk about whatever you want. I’ve asked about babies, car buying, stocks,....

I know I was hesitant to start a build thread when I first started poking around SCR. Combo of feeling my tank was too new and not being able to get decent pictures of what I did have. Couple that with a lack of knowledge and feeling I couldn't help a fellow reefer with advice and I didn't post a whole lot.

That being said, I feel build threads are one of the best ways to start contributing on forums not matter experience level. Whether it be compliments or critiques you're bound to get some valuable input or at least start a discussion if you don't agree with the advice you receive.

I see what I feel like are forced threads/topics for the sake of new threads or activity on other forums. I don't think anyone wants that. What everyone here can appreciate is seeing pictures of tanks, fish and corals. Start a sps build, you're going to interact with stick heads. Into rare shrooms/zoas your build thread attracts those, ect ect.

Start up a fresh FTS thread. Get your SDR buddies to post pictures of theirs on here. We too can post on your site. Battle of the FTS threads. My tank is empty so have nothing to show. Lots of snails and pods right now.
I threw the gauntlet.Go!

I feel that the main reasons that many members prefer to lurk and not post their opinions/thoughts is that as we all know this hobby can be tough at times. Just when you think you have gained some experience and could contribute in a meaningful way your tank has a way of bitch slapping into reality. I have been keeping reef tanks for longer than most of the members on SoCali have been alive (40 years of experience) and I still struggle at it. Most recently after I purchased a large sack of a certain high grade salt produced in Turkey. After several water changes and weeks of head scratching, frustration and many lost corals I finally figured out what the problem must be and consulted with the owner of my LFS. I discovered that he was having the same issues as I was, with the same salt. I would never want to give somebody on the forum bad advice and cause them to have issues with their tank so mostly I am one of the knuckleheads who just lurks and tries to learn from the so-called experts.

i post kind a lot on here now, but the first year or so i really didn't, it just seemed like a for sale type place for the most part. i posted on r2r a lot back then. i suppose because there were so many threads, so many build threads, so many specific topics etc

i figure be the change you want to see, so i started posting more on here because i think a local forum can be so much more personal and interesting

I've been a long timer lurker and just like reading through threads and getting inspiration for my tank. Since most threads here are FS threads, I don't comment on them; when a thread involves a general question, it's usually answered already as well so I don't feel a need to post. I've been meaning to start a build thread but always thought it was kinda late to start one with my tank reaching the 3 year mark soon. I have always been a bit hands off with my tank other than feeding and water changes since college and work gets in the way. I would like to be more active if I had more the time to!

I am still quite new, but I guess my question would be what kind of forum do you want this to be? Are we competing with the global reef forums for providing reefing advice? Tough to compete there. For example, I posted on R2R tonight with a question about worms that are dangerous toward clams, because I am thinking of getting a crocea, but I have Eunice worms and/or Dorvilleidae worms in my tank. Having a global presence means you might find someone with that specific tidbit of info. On the other hand, also easy for your post to get lost in the thousands of others...

Is it a share-with-locals forum where you expect to get more personal and see people at coral/reef events? Was fun to see a few people at CFM. I haven't been around long enough to know if this happens more often.

Definitely works as an exchange/marketplace, although I agree it would be nice for it to be more than that.

Glad to see you're trying to get more people engaged. Thanks!

For me, I’d like it to be lore of an interactive community and not just a Craigslist and unknowns trying to capitalize. This forum use to be crazy busy with local guys. I doubt the hobby has shrunk, so I don’t think that’s the issue.

I agree with Jose. A few years back this forum was very busy with really good discussion and topics.
Don’t get me wrong I’ve found my fair share of deals on these boards. But back then this place was poppin. Now-a-days all I see is the wanna be Jason Fox’s, Steve Tyree’s. So many noobs get in this hobby thinking there going to drop big doe on baller corals then grow them out and then flip the frags for a profit. Well guess what all the other noobs had the same idea. But o wait by the time your ready to frag your corals so is all the rest and now there’s an increase of supply on those corals so guess what happens to the price.

It seems like people these days don’t want to help further the hobby, they just wanna increase there bank roll.

I look at it like this if your in this hobby as a hobby and you need to flip corals to support your means and maintain in the hobby then this is not a hobby for you this is a business. There’s a section for businesses it’s called SPONSORSHIP.

I would like to offer one piece of advice to all the new members

Do your own research and especially don’t just take the advice of a person, especially if that person is depending on you to purchase items from them.

I my self have fell victim to shop owners that just want your money.

No lie this is how I got in this hobby 24 yeas ago. I was 17 and just got my first tax return. Me and my girl friend (now wife) had to go to a pet shop to get her step mom bird food.
I feel in love with the colors on the marine fish. Being a had a wad of cash burning a hole in my pocket I asked the owner what I need to have fish like these (pointing to tangs and angles)?
The owner sells me a 30g hex, a bag of live sand, bag of IO salt, and water conditioner. Tells me go home fill tank with tap water add a few caps of conditioner, then sand, and 14 cups of salt. Mix it for a bit then come back tomorrow and buy fish. So I did what he said. Yep you called it 4 days later I had a tank full of dead fish. So I go back to shop and asked what happened. He then asked if I bought a hang on the back filter. I said “no you didn’t tell me to”. So he sells me a HOB filter and more fish. Yep a week later a tank full of dead fish.

I then went to another pet shop and bought a book and started reading.

So I urge you to do your own research because there’s always someone out there that will make a quick buck off an idiot.


Here’s another story. I meet a local reefer not to long ago. He had got some bad advice for a shop and got got and over paid for things. So I told this exact same story I just told you guys/gals. I said b4 buying things Google search and look at reviews and specs.
So a few weeks pass and he asked if I had time to install a UV sterilizer on his tank. Unfortunately I didn’t cause work has been stupid busy. But I asked him what he got. He tells me he got a 18w UV. Well he has about 180g in water volume. No way is a 18w uv proper going to do the job on 180g. I tried to explain to him that it wasn’t going to cut it. I may have came off like a dick, but I was frustrated that had told him do some research. I’m not telling you this to be a dick I’m telling you this so you don’t do the stupid shit I did and don’t waist your money. Oooo yes I’ve definitely did stupid shit and spent a butt load of money on things to just die or fail.