Questions about the Aquatic Gardeners Association

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.

How to do a scientific experiment

(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.

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.

I became a member of the AGA last year, only because it was required in order to go to the convention in DC. I probably wouldn't have joined if it weren't for that. However, I am glad I joined just for the chance to support those who are supporting this hobby. That reminds me, I need to support this site too!

As far as the pictures and articles, I agree with Gillman. By the time I get the latest version of TAG, I have already seen the majority of pictures somewhere on the net, be it AGA's site or elsewhere. I am usually not very impressed by the articles I read for the same reason. As an example, the last edition of TAG (at least the last one I received) had an article on G. Ghori's DIY CO2 reactor. DIY CO2 reactors are all over this site alone! I do realize that when the idea was brought up, due to submission and printing deadlines, there probably were not so many DIY CO2 reactor articles out there. There in lies the problem with a print magazine in this world of electronic media.

The only other "gripe" I have is TAG has had way too many pictures/articles on Takashi Amano and his products for my tastes. I think this may be a fad, but right now I am sick of constantly being bombarded by his work. It seems like everywhere I look I see something about Mr. Amano. In the current issue of TAG, 9 of the 38 pages (not including the pics of the convention) are devoted to Mr. Amano. That is nearly a quarter of the issue! Don't get me wrong, I like his work, I am just getting tired of seeing and hearing about it all the time.

I would prefer to see more information on the work of others in the hobby like the Senske brothers, Luis Navarro, and the local planted clubs out there. I know this requires these individuals to actually write the articles or submit the photos, but still, it would be a nice change of pace.

On the subject of what else I want to see. That huge Barnes & Nobel tank in Baltimore! There were only about 2 measley pictures in Karen's album. I'd like to see more of it up close, find out what they're using, an interview with whomever maintains it, etc. I was more interested in that than the "people pictures" in DC. As for the AGA convention DVD, I'm not really into watching people set up tanks and my attention span at talks is pretty short. Interviews with AGA contest winners before anyone else gets to them is something I'd be interested in. Going on Field trips to see large displays or an Open House here and there would be interesting as well. Perhaps even have someone set up a tank using ADA equipment, and give regular updates on the progress. There was a big ole debate on ADA equiment on this or another forum; I was on the "Not the Dupla-mania thing again" side. But, many people are genuinely interested, and I'd be interested as well.

Just some more food for thought.