What Does A Beginner Need?
June 8, 2008 · Print This Article
This isn’t going to be a list of what is considered to be essential in the way of equipment, or a list of compatible fish, or anything down those lines.
This is going back to absolute basics, the very beginning, before the dawn of individual experience.
This is what was considered when the idea of this website first arose. How can the complete beginner best be assisted? Or those who, though started, still have problems?
To obtain an answer to the question, consideration was given to what the basic problem is that a beginner faces. For example, picking an aquarium is easy, and if it is from a reputable manufacturer then it will be properly constructed. It isn’t necessarily individual pieces of equipment that present a problem, though explanations are needed.
It is the explanations themselves that are often the problem. The beginner without any marine experience needs straightforward answers. So there lies the answer to the question: the beginner needs simplicity.
I recall opening a book many years ago and seeing something that made me close it again! I haven’t the book any more, but it could have been like this:
W = H – S = 8000 – 0.5
A – B – C A – B – C
The above is in fact a part of a simple lighting calculation, useless on its own. There are others that are far more complicated. A beginner, however, looking at the above would be likely to ‘turn off’ and go elsewhere.
What the beginner requires is simple down-to-earth advice.
Go on the internet and ask a question and there are likely to be well intentioned answers and opinions, but ones that differ, and so the struggling beginner is still left with problems on which way to go.
So it seems best to offer ‘guidelines’, sure footholds to trust along the way. Also to give straightforward explanations where these are needed. This is the premise that the website is based on.
Keeping to the above, there are ‘Guides’ to walk with along the path. There are Articles to explain ‘what’ and ’why.’
It seems to be working – the feedback mainly by Email and also by on-site comment has been very good. We did have a complaint, and that was that a ‘Guide’ had not downloaded. This was because there was a computer hitch. When downloaded the aquarist was delighted.
This could sound a little like self-congratulation, but it isn’t. We’re delighted of course, but are always aware that anything can be improved somehow.
On the basis that the website is intended to be a ‘simple help’, it has been expanded and now includes the facility to look at the top marine equipment suppliers so that a choice can be made. There is also a ’Social’ section. We have not lost the original concept however.
When I started keeping marines there wasn’t an internet – home computers were also unheard of, though they were not that far away. How wonderful if there had been an internet, what a resource it is!
As always, we are open to suggestions (not too rude!) about how we can develop bearing in mind the concept of simplicity.
Related Posts - Is This Hobby Shrinking, Increasing, Confusing or Complex? Nothing like getting value for money - four questions in one. Fair enough. The answers are: No. Yes. Yes. Yes. That was easy, off for...
- Thanks For The Praise And We Don’t Mind Criticism! This website aquaristsonline.com has been running for something over a year. In that time it has expanded and evolved considerably. We, meaning Peter and I,...
- The Aquarium Sump Can Be Used For So Many Things Marine systems of whatever type, reef aquarium or fish only aquarium, can function successfully on their own without a sump, provided they are properly supported...
- Pointers To Success The visit to the LFS when the decision is more or less made to ‘have a go’ at a marine aquarium is an exciting time....
- Take As Much Time As Is Needed Before Purchasing Any Animals With the festive period now finished and a new year just beginning there will probably be a lot of people who are interested in starting...
Related Websites - What is the Difference Between Blogging and Content Writing? Sometimes it seems like articles and blogs are so similar to one another in content that it can be difficult to tell what the difference...
- Payday Loans and Fees Payday loans can come in handy at times, especially if you have late bills, including shut-off notices. Payday loans are quite expensive and are illegal...
- Simple Website Templates Simple Website Templates. Every great website and web design needs a starting place or point. Our own newly redesigned website started from a basic template...
- What Kind of Web-Site Suits Your Business? It's now widely accepted that web-site is essential for any kind of business over Internet. However, before embarking on website design - spend some time...
- Starting A Home-Based Service Business The current trend online lately is towards more home-based businesses, in particular, service businesses. Home-based businesses usually require lower overhead, and start-up costs are low,...
I also think that a lot of education can be self-directed, and people can supplement school easily if books and other learning materials are available. ,
Hello.
Yes, you’re quite correct. There’s a huge amount of information nowadays. Just go to a library and search around, or buy a specific book or books.
Then of course there’s the internet, a vast database of knowledge. Just go to a search engine and submit a subject and up it comes. The problem often is sorting out what’s required and what isn’t from the huge amount of material available.
John´s last blog ..A Large Aquarium Re-Start