I like this idea, it might be helpful here...

[pinkfloydpuffer]

On another forum that I am a member of there is a big box with large red writing in it above every page in the hospital section of the forum. It reads:
"Forum rules
Read this before posting!!

Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.

1) Your water parameters - pH, ammonia, nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.

2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.

3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.

We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster." (Source: The Puffer Forum )

Maybe something similar to this could save us members alot of time and hassle when trying to help out someone else's fish?
Just an idea...

[MPrudent]

That is a great idea. One person posts about a problem and the next 3 replies are "have you tested your water?" Most people, unfortunately, do not search for the answer and would rather just ask. It is so important that people post as much information as possible, especially when dealing with a disease or fish behavior.

[soldieroffortune1974]

That's a great suggestion.....Does Fishlore have a "Hospital Section" ?

I keep answering the same questions many times about different fish,and most of the time the problems are the same as well as the treatments.It would be better if you can get all the info in 1 place.

[pinkfloydpuffer]

Yeah, there's a "freshwater fish disease" and "saltwater fish disease" forum... or something like that.

[Lucy]

Originally Posted by pinkfloydpuffer

On another forum that I am a member of there is a big box with large red writing in it above every page in the hospital section of the forum. It reads:
"Forum rules
Read this before posting!!

Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.

1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.

2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.

3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.

We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster." (Source: The Puffer Forum )

Maybe something similar to this could save us members alot of time and hassle when trying to help out someone else's fish?
Just an idea...

PFP, I belong to a forum that has something similar. I thinks it's a good idea.
A good addition would be to know what kit they use to test.

Originally Posted by MPrudent

Most people, unfortunately, do not search for the answer and would rather just ask.

That's true, even though it's clearly stated in the forum rules.
FishLore Forum Rules

[jgon_]

You have to think though, most new members aren't going to want to read stickies when they sign up, they'd rather just post *their* question instead (even though their problem certianly isn't unique to them). Would there be anyway to create sort of a little questionaire when you sign up on the forum. Example, it asks are your fish gasping at the surface, the person answers, and it provides a short explantion and provides them a link to the probable cause of the problem.

[isis]

Good one!! I like

[MeGustaUnaPez926]

We could make a rule that everyones signatures list all that information. And people could update them like once a week. Some peoples sig's already do that, but not everyones. (mine included)

[Butterfly]

There is a whole list of stickies in the disease forum that cover just about anything that needs to be said as a starting point. They are really informative and easy to follow.
I too go to a forum that has that up but we still have to ask those questions
We could see what Mike thinks
carol

[pinkfloydpuffer]

If you click the link for the puffer forum, you'll see that it's not a sticky, but actually at the top of every page in that section.

[Mike19]

*Lightbulb* ill be right back.

FishLore FAQ section?


Still searching for it, will be back again

[Red1313]

How about a pop-up type reminder? Like how the site double checks to make sure that you want to log out?

[Mike]

We actually had something like this in red on the page where you type in your post. It was a list of common questions that beginners could answer. Just realized that the upgrade probably the changes I'd made to that page away. I'll put something like that back up over the coming weekend. Thanks for the suggestion too.

[nemo addict]

is there a id database i know theres a id section but a id data base with pictures and descriptions if there is aint found it lol

[pinkfloydpuffer]

Umm.... at the top if you click on Aquarium Articles and then on the dropdown menu click freshwater fish profiles or saltwater fish profiles... is that what you mean?

[nemo addict]

no i ment more of a id of fish corals inverts plants algaes bugs worms ect ect,,a actual visual id i know theres the fish one but to expand on it and add to the top bar

[Mike]

Ok, on the "new thread" posting page there is now a RED section at the top of the post entry form that asks similar questions to what PFP posted above. Hopefully people will read it before they ask their questions.

Thanks for the suggestion/reminder to put this back up.
Mike

[pinkfloydpuffer]

Thanks Mike!