Help me improve Member Build thread format

[Art]

We all love Member Build (tank journal) threads. It helps all of us by keeping a journal of your aquarium and it allows all of us to follow along with you on your journey and your learnings. We get to give you advice and help you problem solve.

The downsides to the way Build Threads are used in most sites are:

• There is no timeline so you either have to keep the first post updated with links to subsequent posts that have updates or people have to just scroll through what can be pages of posts to see your progression and the current state of your tank.
• Not a great way to categorize tanks unless we create separate forums for them. For example, large tanks, small tanks, high energy tanks, low energy tanks, etc. Members want to see all of the other members that have a no-CO2 tank for example. Or, they may want to see only the high-tech tanks.
• Less important but still not really possible is rating or reviewing a tank (if that is what is wanted).
• No easy way for the OP to keep updated their current maintenance, products use, fertilizer regime, etc.
• No way to curate pictures of the aquarium over time.

The new software has an ability solve for the above. I am trying to see if you, our members, care and want this improved.

Please answer the question in the poll and please explain in a post. I could really use your input.

 

[Burr740]

A few thoughts, just my opinion of course

There is no timeline so you either have to keep the first post updated with links to subsequent posts that have updates or people have to just scroll through what can be pages of posts to see your progression and the current state of your tank.

Seems redundant because most modern forums including this one take you the last read post when you hit the thread title

Not a great way to categorize tanks unless we create separate forums for them. For example, large tanks, small tanks, high energy tanks, low energy tanks, etc. Members want to see all of the other members that have a no-CO2 tank for example. Or, they may want to see only the high-tech tanks.

Could maybe have specific badges? Instead of every journal saying "build thread" could have a few categories people could select when they make the journal. But also I think it's a little unnecessary unless there were 100s of journals to scroll through. Most folks work those basics into the thread title anyway

Less important but still not really possible is rating or reviewing a tank (if that is what is wanted).

Might discourage beginners if everything is gonna get rated

No easy way for the OP to keep updated their current maintenance, products use, fertilizer regime, etc.

I dont really understand what you mean, isnt this covered in people's posts/updates? Also see number one

Idk if youve seen this but on some forums there's a pinned post that carries over to the top of every page (usually when strict rules are in place about what can be posted) Could have something like that where the author could keep it updated on the latest ferts and all that. Kinda like the spread sheet info but more condensed. Just simple blocks to fill in with the basics. And have that one post appearing at the top of every page

But also keep in mind that not everybody knows how many ppm of ferts they're dosing, or even cares to. So simplicity should also be paramount. Just a box or line for "ferts" and folks can say whatever they want to

And have it expandable. That way its easily available but not intrusive like having an 8" block of text at the top of every page would be. I can see that being useful

Unrelated - is it possible to call them "Journals" instead of "Build Thread"? Because a journal is exactly what it is. The build is over when its flooded and planted. Then the journaling begins...imho

 

[Art]

Thanks, Joe. Valuable insights. Let me explain a little further on a few points.

Seems redundant because most modern forums including this one take you the last read post when you hit the thread title

Please take a look at this demo site that is using the system that we have available to us: 120 Gallon Fresh Water Tank

By timeline, I mean a timeline of the aquarium that is easy for someone to look at and for the OP to maintain. Specifically, if you click on Gallery in the page, you will see a timeline of pictures of the aquarium (only 1 picture in the demo though) where you could show your original tank, then 3 months later, then rescaped, then algae-filled (like mine), etc. Someone can quickly see a progression without having to scroll through the thread for updates. Each picture can be accompanied with a description of the change and can reference a specific area of the discussion (the other tab).

Might discourage beginners if everything is gonna get rated

Agreed. This can be turned off.

I dont really understand what you mean, isnt this covered in people's posts/updates? Also see number one

It's the overview tab in the link above. That can be updated by the OP to show current tank specs. It's a much easier way than editing the first post of a thread. Moreover, it is easy to be in the Discussion tab and then bound back to the Overview tab for reference.

Yes, the section will expand to fit what ever information is added. So, a little info means a small area. It can be made expandable too.

Unrelated - is it possible to call them "Journals" instead of "Build Thread"? Because a journal is exactly what it is. The build is over when its flooded and planted. Then the journaling begins...imho

Good point. We used build thread because it was used in other aquarium sites. I can certainly convert it to be Tank Journal if that is what the community would prefer to see.

--0--

In the end, what this system would allow us to have is a more organized section for Tank Journals. Like in the example site above, it would be a link in the main navigation and then easy to search and organize.

To me, this is better than a long list of Tank Journal posts but I am only one person. I would really like the community to tell me if this is an improvement or not. I won't implement it if it is not seen as an improvement over what we got.

Thanks for your input, Joe. Valuable and appreciated as usual.

 

[Art]

Bumping to get more votes in the poll.

Thanks for contributing your opinions!

 

[Unexpected]

I’d maybe move the build thread up so people see the build thread section sooner. IMO, it’s the most interesting section of the forum and is where I want to be mostly.

 

[Art]

Looking at improving Member Tanks for discoverability. It will go up to top navigation bar.

 

[Burr740]

Yes lets move Build Threads Tank Journals to the top!

 

[Art]

As you can see, I'm working on it.

Here is what's going to happen. We have a more robust area that will be a "Journals" button on the main nav bar. This will lead to a special area where a member will showcase their tank and maintain their journal.

• First post will have the details of the tank with photos. The details are flexible based on what you want to add as info.
• Future updates can be tagged as updates and will be easy for anyone to click and see. No more scrolling through pages to see updates by the OP.
• A gallery tab will keep pictures uploaded by the OP so you quickly see, in one place, the progression of the tank as it becomes more beautiful with all our help, or crashes like mine did.
• Of course, below the main post will be all our comment posts that will follow the same format they do now.

The goal is easy to setup and maintain while easy for the rest of us to see progress and identify updates without scrolling through pages and pages.

This will be version 1. I will tweak it based on what you like and don't like. As always, thanks for caring enough to share your thoughts!

 

[*Ci*]

It sounds great, but will we have to start new journals for each tank or will the information in our old build threads get ported over somehow?

 

[Art]

The information will be ported over. You do not need to start again.