Warren

Seeing this almost inspires me to try it!! Na, too much money and time. I expect one day it's going to happen. It's a natural progression really... 8)

Yeah funny, also expected. It was discussed it would only be a matter of time before someone did it!! Jetskisteve was not the first. There have been several others over the years but never so many in such a short time before...

Slappers is not banned, he just stole the avatar and added it to his profile. I've removed it. Please do not do this. The avatar is there to show others the member is banned. This is not to advertise the fact as a warning, rather to let others know they will not get a response from the member in the forums or from PM's. If you want to contact a banned member you'll need to use their personal email address.

Thanks for the heads up. Is now fixed. Remember, the mods on the site are volunteers and most of us work during the day. Not all things are picked up straight away. Interesting though, 2 mods replied without picking it up!!

Sorry, no, he was banned for another reason unrelated to the original issue. If you want to know why, ask him using his personal email.

Yip, fairs fair after all...

This would be fine if it is presented as information and not an argument. It all comes down to the way the post is worded. Too many times there is some kind of flippant remark or insinuation that turns into a slagging match. We know a few of you don't get on and it takes only the smallest thing to start something. By all means, discuss products as members. If retailers or importers can offer information about products this is fine as long as it is information only and not ‘You should buy this because’. If it turns into a slagging match as it often does, there will be trouble. So, if a retailers or importers post is presented as a hobbyist then fine.

History shows however that product pushing directly leads to slanging matches. It has happen far too many times. If we stop product pushing and offer friendly advice and advantages and disadvantages without resellers feeling they are being attacked then maybe we the slanging matches will stop. Agree and Disagree on points of interest, just don't make it personal.

Read the guidelines, when are you all going to learn!! ALL commercial activity must be restricted to the commercial section it's as simple as that. We're going to stop the trouble caused by this!!

This is true and something that has slipped under the radar. We'll be looking for this over the next few weeks and asking people to change / update as necessary. If you have sigs or avitars of this nature it would be a good idea to change it before you are contacted. Thanks in advance for your help.

Yip, some fish sure are a battle to keep!!

Hmm, maybe some good has come out of all this then!!

Yeah, nothing like cracking the whip eh!! All I'm really suggesting and not to you specifically is, now would be a good idea for everyone to re-read the site guidelines. Intimate knowledge of them should head off any future problems. Remember, if someone makes a post you find offensive or a personal attack, do not retaliate. If you advise a moderator or administrator about it the problem will get fixed and appropriate action will be taken. The three biggest problems with people posting on this site are: 1. They do not know and/or understand the guidelines. 2. They blatantly disregard the guidelines and post what they like. 3. They cannot keep a cool head when some says something that hits a nerve. The moderators and administrators only use the guidelines for moderating so knowing them well is in your best interest.

Looks like more than a few rumours starting too. Make sure you get it right first though...

Best get to it then or your zipper won't be safe!! 8)

Did you re-read the guidelines??

Go read the guidelines then post within them, it's that simple!! There's even a link at the bottom of my posts to take you there. It's probably a good time for everyone to read them again so they don't get into trouble...

Neither is better, they go hand-in-hand... In saying that, MH on a tank that size is probably not necessary unless you want to go MH for the sake of it. Fluro's will work just as well unless the tank is over 600mm deep then MH will help a bit. CO2 and lighting are a balance, you don't need one without the other. Adding CO2 without the correct lighting will do very little and adding the correct lighting without CO2 is much the same and you may end up with unwanted algae...

Oops!! :oops:

Sorry Chim, This is not true. Jetskisteve was not banned due to his VW avitar. It was removed with a request to change it to something that was not designed to create a reaction (see the guidelines). It was what happened after this that caused the ban... (An unsubstanstantiated rumour was starting here!!) I will discuss the idea of changing the avitar of a banned person with the others, it's a good idea. To date we have had so few people banned it hasn't needed to be a consideration. As the site grows however...

A month is an appropriate time to reflect on what's been done. Any less makes it meaningless. Alter ego's are not allowed on the site (see the guidelines). All new registrations require administrator approval and are checked in some detail. It's pretty difficult to register twice. The sticky is also in the Announcements area but a copy was added to saltwater as over half the trouble is stirred up in this forum. Some of you have some concern about what can be a joke and what is over the line. If the post can be interpreted as over the line then don't post. If it's clear it's a joke, feel free to post with no probs. If a post looks like it's borderline we're more than likely to contact you about it. An immediate ban will only be applied if it's absolutely clear the line has been crossed (as it has been recently). All mods and admin try to be as impartial as possible when making decisions.

Me too, it's my job to help clubs. If you get your prospective club together as a group, I can visit and we'll all have a nice chat about it.

Sounds like a good idea, - it's been quite some time since there was a club in your area. You don't need to do much. I'd use the incorporated societies information as a bit of a guide (just to get some kind of structure but if you don't become an incorporated society you don't have to meet the minimum requirements etc). You can always affiliate to the FNZAS as well... You'll need to appoint a few officers like President, Secretary, Treasurer etc. It also pays to have an editor to produce a monthly newsletter to keep everyone informed. Just get a few people together and decide to give it a go and you have a basic club. All it really takes is somebody with the energy to drive it along at the start. Once it gains some momentum it will look after itself to some degree.

Hi Nemo!!