Would y’all like us to find a way to make build threads more “prevalent?”

[Crabs McJones]

LOL, yeah, that image gives me the heebie jeebies also. You gotta admit it though, it certainly does bring attention to a comment or post.

My avatar for a short period was kim dracula, and it gave @revhtree the heebie jeebies so I had to change it back to tamatoa

 

[timmyrules]

My avatar for a short period was kim dracula, and it gave @revhtree the heebie jeebies so I had to change it back to tamatoa

Crabs, that would give ANYONE the heebie jeebies! Lol

 

[AlyciaMarie]

Also, some members already have some tools in their belt to help format and build threads to make navigation easier for the author and commentators. Check out my pico build thread, which is linked to my signature. You'll see that all of my updates have been linked in the body of the thread for quick access.

Of course, this isn't a solution if you're not into learning techy things or don't have access to editing posts beyond 5 minutes (you need to be a supporting member to do this). I just wanted to throw it out there while the staff mulls over some of these ideas and points you all are bringing up.

 

[whybenormal]

There is a feature like that already, got to the sidebar and click on showcase, they are set up like the tank of the month showcase, but nobody seems to use them often.

I didn't know about this. Now I'll go check it out.
I'd love to be able to look at other people's builds without having to read through 1000 pages to find the entire story though.

 

[akmorphs]

Maybe add categories by gallons?

I like this idea a lot!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Maybe another feature that would be helpful is to have the ability to lock our own tank thread from outside comments, for those who just want to share without feedback? And your badge will always disappear every time you apply to join a user group. I’d log in R2R on a web browser and bookmark the Tank Thread address.

While I wouldn't use that (as a moderator, I could already for my own tank thread), but I do think that would be a good choice that might not be too hard to implement and some folks might want to use it.

 

[OriginalUserName]

Would y’all like us to find a way to make build threads more “prevalent?”

Not sure how we would do it but it’s been suggested that we do.

Any ideas?

It would take someone to make updates but why not create a master thread of build thread links? Just include brief summary and an FTS plus the link to the full thread for that tank.

This would be a way easier way to scan for fun tanks.

 

[strich]

Just jump in and ask questions. The vast majority of us are welcoming and more than happy to answer questions or discuss our systems.

Even threads that have thousands of replies, if you ask questions or get involved in the threads, the OP's of them are more than willing to talk to you! I comment on build threads that are brand new to those that have been around for years and everyone is very welcoming!

It's not really about just asking questions at the jump - I already do that as needed. It's about the time required to even learn about the persons process and tank to even come to finding questions to ask. Sometimes there is just a ton of noise in between meaningful updates. And what we're all debating here are ways to provide more tools to users to read and participate in build threads.

While I wouldn't use that (as a moderator, I could already for my own tank thread), but I do think that would be a good choice that might not be too hard to implement and some folks might want to use it.

I must admit I recoiled a little at the prospect of providing a way for users to lock their own threads. I would fear that would just end up pushing some interesting conversations into DMs.
It feels a little extreme a solution to me, and if the author dislikes being bombarded with replies then surely they can just turn off thread updates for that thread? That option already exists.

 

[revhtree]

I read somewhere on this forum that this happens if you don’t make periodic updates to your build thread. How long do you have to make an update before your badge disappears? I have no idea. But IMO your build thread badge shouldn’t go away if you don’t make updates on a regular basis and the admins should set it up this way. I believe you’re just one of many on this forum that goes to show that removing someone’s badge just discourages that person from continuing with the thread.

I apologize someone misinformed you but that is 100% wrong. We would never ever do that. There is a bug in the badging where sometimes a badge gets removed

 

[Llyod276]

See that blank spot in our respective profiles? Looks like a great place for my bukd thread... also tell your moderators to leave me alone. Bad enough you bleep me out as it is, then they go through and remove my punch lines...

 

[exnisstech]

Disclaimer : I did not read most of the posts.
I couldn't care less about people noticing my build thread, tank thread or what ever you want to call it. There is YouTube,FB, IG etc for people that need attention or recognition.
I like to document the journey and having a build thread is great for that. I also think they can be useful to help people new to the hobby vette people offering advice.
What I would like to see is being able to have more than one. My tank thread is my largest tank 330g. I recently started a small AIO and want to document that journey as well but I can only make it accessible by adding it as a signature and no one on mobile can even see the signature unless they rotate their device to landscape.
More than one clickable badge like a large tank build thread badge along with an AIO build thread badge etc is what I would like to see.

 

[strich]

I do have to say I think this forum is currently failing to provide a cohesive solution to tank showcase/builds. From what I've gleaned it sounds like this topic has been broached before but I really do not understand the point of Showcase topics that contain both an index of information and a `Discussion` section, in addition to a separate topic thread `Journal` that is the modern build threads we're talking about here.

Showcase Topics
They are actually pretty nice - The home page for them is visual first with images, which is fantastic and inviting.
They provide a section on technical details and the type of tank - Presumably that info could be used to create filters and search functions on the site.
The Discussion tab seems identical in functionality to a normal thread.

Why then do we have entirely separate "Build Journal" sections of the forum where it seems to me the majority of people create their showcase/build, and why are they soft pushed as the primary way to find tanks through the badge system?

It all seems very confused to me, and I struggle to see how any of the improvements or changes suggested in this thread can be implemented whilst these 2 overlapping features exist.

It seems clear at the very least no one is entirely happy with the state of things as they stand right now.

I'd offer my own suggestions and vision but at the end of the day someone in leadership needs care enough about this to take on the complex task of creating a solution that resolved most of the feedback and provides a cohesive singular vision for how tank journals should work.

 

[X-37B]

I use my build threads to keep a running log of my system.
When you click on a build thread badge a drop-down menu of all your builds would be a nice function.

 

[Gundy]

FYI you can click the "My Tank Thread" on your profile on the left there:

What really? Leaving to where though?

As someone who only joined this forum in the past year and hasn't yet got a tank thread, something that I think is definitely true is that I just do not bother looking at tank threads that are over 10 pages long unless the title or tank is particularly unique or interesting to me. It's just too much time to take to read and understand the tank progress and maybe even participate.

My suggestion would be to look into different ways of configuring those threads. IE maybe each post from the author is automatically added to a table of contents at the top in the first post, so you can easily see main updates and go to them. I don't know how configurable this board software is, but if it were possible to mix in an index of "key updates" to quickly go to in the thread it may help people get involved.

I 100% agree with this. Some tank threads are ridiculously long with a lot of off topic chatter. I will never read these threads. Having a way to read the authors main updates would be awesome.

 

[Rhetoric]

Couple thoughts I didn't see anyone mention.

I tend to surf the home page. The home page is full of welcome posts. It's borderline spam. I understand why they are important, it grows the hobby and community. They also take up "space⁹ of the committed and active community. Perhaps build threads would get more attention with more visibility. The large multi page journals are often seen more because they are active threads. While smaller less active threads get bummped quickly and buried. Less main page welcome spam would allow more exposure.

Growing the hobby is tricky. People enjoy rewards. Something as simple as "the my build badge" could be is progressive. Base it on the age of an aquarium. This allows Reefers to level up threads and be engaged with there own journey, while indicating to others the potential progress. The growth of coral in a 1 yr reef vs a 3 yr reef kind of thing. Putting the time in is already earned, why not show it and reward it?

My own journal experience is to watch the tank threads similar to my own. I like to see what others are doing within the same space I have. I open a journal skim the first post and note the OP and start date. Then I skip to the last page and see how it's progressed. If I find the photos and content interesting, I read the journal more closely and stay current with it.

The only way I could think of making this happen in my own journal is I keep the first page updated with progress. (Photos specifically) So maybe someone sees it, sees something of interest (corals growing!) and maybe reads and talk aquarium with me. I'm not looking for reef of the month or a ton Of attention. I just want to talk hobby with others. Sometimes it's nice to talk with others about your own aquarium.

(Its late and long, so grammer and spelling are meh.)

 

[IntrinsicReef]

This isn't exactly on topic, but when I see a Photo of the Month badge or ROTM badge, I wish it was hyperlinked to the corresponding thread. I instinctually want to click on it like the My Tank Thread badge.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I must admit I recoiled a little at the prospect of providing a way for users to lock their own threads. I would fear that would just end up pushing some interesting conversations into DMs.
It feels a little extreme a solution to me, and if the author dislikes being bombarded with replies then surely they can just turn off thread updates for that thread? That option already exists.

I think it is about having a concise log of the tank that others can read through and understand without having to read thorough all sorts of side conversations about local frag shows, a half dozen suggestions from folks about where to get a plumbing part, what height they think the OP should put their light at, etc. It's like an article on the tank.

It's not about the OP getting bombarded, its about making the thread easier for others to read just about the tank.

 

[revhtree]

I think it is about having a concise log of the tank that others can read through and understand without having to read thorough all sorts of side conversations about local frag shows, a half dozen suggestions from folks about where to get a plumbing part, what height they think the OP should put their light at, etc. It's like an article on the tank.

It's not about the OP getting bombarded, its about making the thread easier for others to read just about the tank.

I’ll address the many good posts and suggestions later but for now I wanted to remind everyone that this is exactly why we added the showcase. It allows all the OP to list all the details that stay at the top of the discussion like here: https://www.reef2reef.com/showcase/my-italian-reef.668/

Not only that. You are able to add multiple tanks to the showcase and when someone clicks your showcase badge it takes them to your showcase profile that shows a list of all your current tanks in the showcase.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I’ll address the many good posts and suggestions later but for now I wanted to remind everyone that this is exactly why we added the showcase. It allows all the OP to list all the details that stay at the top of the discussion like here: https://www.reef2reef.com/showcase/my-italian-reef.668/

Not only that. You are able to add multiple tanks to the showcase and when someone clicks your showcase badge it takes them to your showcase profile that shows a list of all your current tanks in the showcase.

Thanks, Rev.

 

[NC AL]

Some general directions for how to make your build thread more viewed and informative would be nice.

Examples,
1) Having a current photo of your tank on the first post. OP has to go back and edit original post.
2) Equipment and fish list

I enjoy build threads the most. However seeing a new aquarium with rock and water only bores most people, Then you have to search through pages of post to find relevant pictures.