the "glory days"

[Backfromthedead]

I joined right in the midst of the "downtick". Never noticed of course lol. There's always been plenty of action for me to waste time on here. True it seems that there was a lot more content in earlier days, but I think the ratio of good content to garbage content has more or less stayed the same, perhaps even improved? Idk. At any rate most all of the old content is still archived here and we still have a lot of knowledgeable active members.

One thing I'd say for sure is that the average keeper nowadays on MFK keeps smaller types of fish, smaller tanks than those 10 years ago did. I think the recession had a lot to do with it but don't know for certain.

I'm just content to be a small part of the dedicated community here.

 

[KATALEKEEPER]

I joined right in the midst of the "downtick". Never noticed of course lol. There's always been plenty of action for me to waste time on here. True it seems that there was a lot more content in earlier days, but I think the ratio of good content to garbage content has more or less stayed the same, perhaps even improved? Idk. At any rate most all of the old content is still archived here and we still have a lot of knowledgeable active members.

One thing I'd say for sure is that the average keeper nowadays on MFK keeps smaller types of fish, smaller tanks than those 10 years ago did. I think the recession had a lot to do with it but don't know for certain.

I'm just content to be a small part of the dedicated community here.

very interesting thank you. Do you think the price of equipment has increased and that may be why? I wouldnt know because I only started fish keeping lately

 

[krichardson]

I would say the days when the forum was most active, with the most traffic

Then I would agree with robmcd for various reasons.

 

[Backfromthedead]

very interesting thank you. Do you think the price of equipment has increased and that may be why? I wouldnt know because I only started fish keeping lately

If you're buying retail than yes and its simply inflation imo. Where i live, the price of nearly every commodity has increased probably 30-40% over the last 10 years, and I don't think wages have kept up--oops I'm talking politics better shut up.

The good news is that used aquarium equipment can come very cheap. Sometimes you can find great deals on high end equipment from someone who is "getting out of the hobby" like is so often seen on the marketplace here.

 

[duanes]

I joined in 2007, and my take is, that back then, (with the exception of a few) many aquarists were tying to cram as many big fish into too small tanks, as they could, whether it was good for the fish, or not.
I'd like to think, aquarists have become more enlightened over the years.
And maybe those who were not acting in the best interest of the fish, have quit because their fish became diseased, died, or just plain killed each other.
There also seemed to be more posts like, "what's the meanest fish I can get cause that's cool", which often leads to the same negative outcome, and does not bode well for long term sustainability in fish keeping.

 

[esoxlucius]

Also, don't forget, MFK is a huge database of information, gathered over the years, and which continues to be gathered. I know a lot of people don't use the search function, they simply come on and start a thread, which is good for the site. But I bet many, the more shy lurker types do use the search function. They can attain valuable info without engaging.This would take away from daily activity making us seem less busy.

That database of info would have been a lot smaller "back in the day", with answers to problems less easy to come across, so hobbyists started threads to find out what they wanted to know, making the site busier.

Maybe?

 

[Hendre]

was there a reason for the downtick

There were some technical issues that caused severe downtime, which discouraged many members. Then the social media usage distracted more traffic and there was little structure to the forum for a while. Thanks to an influx of new staff and the management of an MFK facebook page there was a huge increase in forum traffic in recent times.

I joined right in the midst of the "downtick". Never noticed of course lol. There's always been plenty of action for me to waste time on here. True it seems that there was a lot more content in earlier days, but I think the ratio of good content to garbage content has more or less stayed the same, perhaps even improved? Idk. At any rate most all of the old content is still archived here and we still have a lot of knowledgeable active members.

One thing I'd say for sure is that the average keeper nowadays on MFK keeps smaller types of fish, smaller tanks than those 10 years ago did. I think the recession had a lot to do with it but don't know for certain.

I'm just content to be a small part of the dedicated community here.

This for sure. People have less space and/or money for monster tanks, so most people stick to smaller tanks. The content is definitely improving!
MFK is more of a mindset than a motto

If you're buying retail than yes and its simply inflation imo. Where i live, the price of nearly every commodity has increased probably 30-40% over the last 10 years, and I don't think wages have kept up--oops I'm talking politics better shut up.

The good news is that used aquarium equipment can come very cheap. Sometimes you can find great deals on high end equipment from someone who is "getting out of the hobby" like is so often seen on the marketplace here.

Equipment is definitely getting pricier. So long as you don't dive into the politics between the wages, all is good. Cost of living is definitely rising.

I joined in 2007, and my take is, that back then, (with the exception of a few) many aquarists were tying to cram as many big fish into too small tanks, as they could, whether it was good for the fish, or not.
I'd like to think, aquarists have become more enlightened over the years.
And maybe those who were not acting in the best interest of the fish, have quit because their fish became diseased, died, or just plain killed each other.
There also seemed to be more posts like, "what's the meanest fish I can get cause that's cool", which often leads to the same negative outcome, and does not bode well for long term sustainability in fish keeping.

People are getting more responsible with their pets, which is appreciated. More people are receptive to advice and even the young 'uns like me who were raring for craziness eventually absorbed the good advice given and eventually give back to the forum.

Also, don't forget, MFK is a huge database of information, gathered over the years, and which continues to be gathered. I know a lot of people don't use the search function, they simply come on and start a thread, which is good for the site. But I bet many, the more shy lurker types do use the search function. They can attain valuable info without engaging.This would take away from daily activity making us seem less busy.

That database of info would have been a lot smaller "back in the day", with answers to problems less easy to come across, so hobbyists started threads to find out what they wanted to know, making the site busier.

Maybe?

There are a LOT of lurkers (Hi!) and that's still wonderful, MFK has loads of non-registered traffic for general queries that come up

 

[KATALEKEEPER]

I joined in 2007, and my take is, that back then, (with the exception of a few) many aquarists were tying to cram as many big fish into too small tanks, as they could, whether it was good for the fish, or not.
I'd like to think, aquarists have become more enlightened over the years.
And maybe those who were not acting in the best interest of the fish, have quit because their fish became diseased, died, or just plain killed each other.
There also seemed to be more posts like, "what's the meanest fish I can get cause that's cool", which often leads to the same negative outcome, and does not bode well for long term sustainability in fish keeping.

well i hope to represent/spread this message of sustai

There were some technical issues that caused severe downtime, which discouraged many members. Then the social media usage distracted more traffic and there was little structure to the forum for a while. Thanks to an influx of new staff and the management of an MFK facebook page there was a huge increase in forum traffic in recent times.


This for sure. People have less space and/or money for monster tanks, so most people stick to smaller tanks. The content is definitely improving!
MFK is more of a mindset than a motto


Equipment is definitely getting pricier. So long as you don't dive into the politics between the wages, all is good. Cost of living is definitely rising.


People are getting more responsible with their pets, which is appreciated. More people are receptive to advice and even the young 'uns like me who were raring for craziness eventually absorbed the good advice given and eventually give back to the forum.


There are a LOT of lurkers (Hi!) and that's still wonderful, MFK has loads of non-registered traffic for general queries that come up

oh yeah for sure! Rn there are like 600 un registered users online. Have you guys ever thought of creating an instagram page? I think that could get a huge amount of traffic for the page.

 

[Hendre]

There is one, there just isn't anything on it now. As far as I know most of the staff are busy irl so it is mostly unused.