Questions about the Aquatic Gardeners Association - General Aquarium Plants Discussions

Phil Edwards · 03-01-2005, 06:13 AM

Hey all,

After talking with a number of people about the AGA it's come to my attention that a lot of folks who are "up to date" with the state of the hobby, particularly those involved in discussion boards like APC, aren't satisfied by what the AGA offers its members. Since the AGA exists solely to help the hobby and the hobbyists who make it up it's important that the AGA keep up with its members and their needs/desires.

Would you please take some time to tell me what you like and dislike about membership in the AGA? Specifically, and constructively, speaking to the points which you feel need change will be of the most help.

The only thing I'd like to say before this is, if you're not satisfied with the articles in TAG and the information it does/does not provide it's up to you to submit articles. TAG is almost exclusively written by the AGA membership, but we can't publish what we don't get. It's up to you to make TAG what you want it to be.

With that, please, write away. If you're not comfortable writing something for public view, please send it in an email to me:

adverts@aquatic-gardeners.org

Thank you,
Phil

pineapple · 03-01-2005, 06:27 AM

The beauty of TAG is that you can sit down at breakfast and read something, with photos related to the article, that has not appeared on the Internet. I am thinking of the articles about trips to Tropica, about Oriental Gardens, about mosses.

Also, the how-to articles, such as that by Jeff Senske on attached planting etc, are what appeal to me. Very often, the how-to articles appear on the web all over the place with far too many interjections and distractions to make them readable. How-to articles published in TAG are readable - and can form the seed for discussion on the Web.

I imagine a how-to article on the ADA substrate system would be a great hit.

I hope Phil inspires some input...

Andrew Cribb

jsenske · 03-01-2005, 06:35 AM

Andrew- I am all over that. Great idea. I have been trying to think of something new to contribute to TAG. Since Karen took over it has really improved. Phil is right- the foundation is there for a really cool mag. It's up to us to make better. It already is much better than what I see in the other major mags- TFH, FAMA, etc. - especially regarding plants- those mags are awful. Maybe an article that ties in the ADA substrate info. with Oliver Knott's upcoming (April) visit where we will be setting up a new ADA substrate based tank that will be cool because it will combine ADA products (substrate, Lily Pipes, 8,000Kbulbs) with American products (Oceanic trimless tank, Coralife light fixture).

Rob G · 03-01-2005, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsenske

Maybe an article that ties in the ADA substrate info. with Oliver Knott's upcoming (April) visit where we will be setting up a new ADA substrate based tank that will be cool because it will combine ADA products (substrate, Lily Pipes, 8,000Kbulbs) with American products (Oceanic trimless tank, Coralife light fixture).

That sounds like a great idea. I would imagine that there are many others like myself who are very interested in seeing the trimless Oceanic tank and hearing when it will become available as part of their regular line (i.e. not a special order). Perhaps your article, if it features the use of the trimless tank, would be a great opportunity to invite Oceanic to purchase an advertisement for their trimless tanks in the same issue of TAG.

Rob G · 03-01-2005, 06:56 AM

Overall, I tend to agree with Phil's indications. I am somewhat unsatisfied with TAG over the past couple of years. However, I found the latest issue, with its articles on mosses, to be great, and I think everyone on the current TAG staff deserve a big thanks for moving things in the right direction. Seeking feedback in this forum is much appreciated, Phil.

Something I don't much care for is the reiteration of the APD threads that appear regularly as a column. The information is good, but I think I am not the only one who has read the form postings long before the TAG article is published. That is something I could do without.

Things I do like are articles on new plants. The article on Elatine gussonei by Stephan Mifsud was informative.

I would really like to see some articles on experiments conducted by fellow planted tank enthusiasts. I think writings on experiments conducted in a manner that many of us could perform at home (provided we have extra tanks to devote to this) would provide great food for thought and encourage a good deal of discussion in this and other forums. I realize that it is up to people such as myself to get this started.

JanS · 03-01-2005, 11:25 AM

The only thing I'd like that they aren't offering right now is a nice little AGA window decal with your paid membership.

Love TAG, BTW.

Maybe a Q & A section or two would be nice?

clay · 03-01-2005, 06:47 PM

i think it is a great idea. but i feel many of us who have absolutely no experience with experiments wouldn't know where to start. has anyone considered doing a thread on how to do a scientific experiment?

Thanks.

HeyPK · 03-01-2005, 07:57 PM

(1) You start off with a question.
(2) You come up with a possible answer that you think is more likely than a lot of other answers that occured to you. That possible answer will be your hypothesis.
(3) You think of an 'If--------then--------' statement. If your hypothesis is true, then you could do something and would get a certain result. If it is false, then you would get a different result.
(4) Your 'if-------then-------' statement suggests an experiment.

QUESTION:-----Why are the older leaves dying on my sword plants?
POSSIBLE ANSWER (HYPOTHESIS)-------They are dying because they need potassium.
STATEMENT-------If they need potassium, and I add potassium, then the older leaves will stop dying and maybe the swords will grow faster. If they don't need potassium and I add potassium, then the older leaves will keep on dying.
EXPERIMENT------Add some potassium and watch the plants for the next several weeks to see if the older leaves stop dying. If they do, then your hypothesis was supported, and it becomes a theory. If they don't, then it is back to the 'ole drawing board to get a new hypothesis.

You want to change only one thing---potassium. If you add potassium and magnesium, and trace elements, and then the older leaves stop dying, then you are not going to know which addition caused the older leaves to stop dying.

clay · 03-02-2005, 08:53 PM

i appreciate that. the last time i saw that was in high school. don't need a lot of science to deal with banking!

GillMan · 03-03-2005, 05:31 AM

Phil, I recently became a member of AGA after years of just thinking about it and I just got my first TAG. The articles were great, but the photos were small and not very clear. I had already seen most of the "winners" online and up close, so I couldn't really be awestruck by the printed versions. The online book format, of a monthly or quarterly magazine, as put out by All Wet Thumbs, is really nice, but some people prefer print. I don't.

Since the internet is my main avenue for information and to view people's tanks and galleries, the format of the AGA member chat, like the APD, is not condusive to this end. Perhaps we don't need another board, but that's where we meet and talk about our goals and challenges, post pictures, etc. I don't peruse or post at AGA or APD.

The aquascaping contests are great and I don't feel like it's too exclusive to enter. Other than that, I don't feel my new membership has much to offer me as even your merchandise is limited. An AGA decal or patch would be great, for those of us not interested in T-shirts but love the logo and the convention logo. AGA feels like a club, but one that is far away. I hope this is the input you were seeking.