Joining A Plant Group.

[craynerd]

Massively valid point Simon. It would NOT be a forum, a forum based site would not work neither would it need to work since we have plenty to choose from, this one being a fine example.


Therefore the content would be UK news. You could use weblogs, and post information on indivduals tanks and setups. All the standard malarky, setting up ect BUT the main focus would be UK news.

Prime examples would be people like Jimboo making PFK and also i know a lot more interesting articles are to come This could all be upadated

Good articles by well established planters, UK market news and product reviews as well as sources. Pages to compile profiles on UK owners tanks.

This way we would build a database of the development of the planted tank community in the UK. That in itself would encourage other UK people to join.

Also people could be specific about location and therefore contact their locals. Also we could have a few meetings.

This would all be updated slowly and if people forget about the site, when they register they would get the monthly news letter to remind them!!

That in my opinion is how it would start...of course from there, once you have regular dedicated members, monthly meetings more news, more events...the worlds ur oyster! lol ...then ur sponder comes in and flys Mr Amano over for a few members lessons

Chris

 

[simonbrown403]

Sounds good how do we sign up.

Maybe we could have some sort of members list possably with emails/msn adds if they where willing, to find planted tank infuseasts in our own areas.

 

[George Farmer]

Interesting.

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Basically it would be and interactive ( of sorts ) on line magazine.

And like you say people would contribute an article even if they were not an expert.

It could include emursed planted tanks, bonsai, moss gardens, zen gardens nature photography ( taken by contributers ) for inspirations anything for inspiration or of natural interest.
Biotop ish planted tanks.
Full of info and details of how tanks where made and problems the artist came across and how they overcame them.

Links to members own websites.

I too am only a newbie when ity comes to nature aquariums but i still have ideas, every one would have something to offer no matter what there experience.

 

[Themuleous]

I must confess to not seeing the need for this? Yes it could be UK based but does this very forum not serve all of the functions all ready listed?

The only benefit I can see would be to have people meet in person and to see peoples tank 'in the flesh' and sit around drinking tea and chatting. That would be massively benficial, well for me certainly, but the rest seems to be covered by exisitng forums, no?

 

[craynerd]

gf225 Today, 10:58 PM Post #18

Interesting.

Well there is 10 quality articles from the start if George thinks its a good idea



Moody, right on, it would be an online mag.

If u used some sort of blogger like word press, people could easily submit articles and the site could be updated very easily with little need for understanding programming. Would just take a few moderators and admin.


Now the serious bit, does anyone wanna contribute to a small setup fee seriously!! Obviously full access to those contrbuting. I`m prepared to pay a good wodge. Anyone else good with graphics, good with programming?

Your talking £20 for a domain for 2 years and £20 for 1 year hosting! £40 total.
Yes yes, you can get it cheaper, but has it MySQL, database compatibilty, full admin tools...maybe not, worth sticking with people you trust...

 

[Graeme Edwards]

I think me and chris are thinking that this could be one way of raising the profile of the planted aquarium in the UK, and im sure we would want to doit as stylish and well presented as Amano would doit.

Its all about raising our game.

Graeme.

 

[craynerd]

Agree... its about uniting and creating a true community of UK planted tank enthusiasts. It is scary when you think how far behind the asian contenent and even America we are! It can`t be through lack of skill, it has to be through lack of knowledge...so start sharing our own knowledge and rasie the profile in the UK !!!


Maybe i`m getting over excited, its just i had this exact thought about 2 weeks ago and nearly did something about it, didnt think i`d get the backing!!!

Chris

 

[Themuleous]

Well if it starts Id certainly join just wonder how effective it would be thats all. Sorry dont mean to put a downer on things

 

[craynerd]

Understand completely and a valid query!! thats where quality content comes in with plenty of it being UK specific.

Chris

 

[chrismr]

Sounds like it could be good. Plenty of people on here could write articels I am sure which could be easily searched, etc. searches on forums suck.

Members could have proper photo album journals, exceeding what they can do in forums.

There is lots of scope, if there is hte drive backing it.

I am a web developer/designer, and would be willing to work on this - but only if I was sure the time I put in was not in vain (i.e. putting in many hours work for everyone to get bored with the idea)

 

[Gnatfish]

Now the serious bit, does anyone wanna contribute to a small setup fee tongue2.gif seriously!! Obviously full access to those contrbuting. I`m prepared to pay a good wodge. Anyone else good with graphics, good with programming?

Your talking £20 for a domain for 2 years and £20 for 1 year hosting! £40 total.
Yes yes, you can get it cheaper, but has it MySQL, database compatibilty, full admin tools...maybe not, worth sticking with people you trust...

Umm...I would say it costs less for the domain and more for the hosting. Domains here cost £5 for a co.uk. And web hosting generally costs between £3-£6 a month with all the good tools and stuff.

Also, i know a bit of PHP coding and HTML/CSS so i could help a bit maybe.

 

[craynerd]

Umm...I would say it costs less for the domain and more for the hosting. Domains here cost £5 for a co.uk. And web hosting generally costs between £3-£6 a month with all the good tools and stuff.

Also, i know a bit of PHP coding and HTML/CSS so i could help a bit maybe.

3 x 12 = £36 !! 6 x 12 = £72 !!!! lol

then u have the issue of matching a cheapo domain to a reliable host.

As your figures show above, my original £20 £20 is not far from and reliable!

Anyway, been thinking about it more, i don`t think a website is the way forward, i think a news letter preferebly sent via true mail would be the way to go!

Chris

 

[George Farmer]

This is exciting guys but be careful ref. TFF rules - advertising etc.

For the record I'm willing to offer my services if required - spare time permitting of course.

Like Chris says, and I have several times on here and other forums, the UK is embarrassingly far behind the likes of the states and far east in this hobby. For whatever reason marine seems to be more popular, you only have to flick through any PFK to get a perspective of how the planted hobby, particularly high-tech, is (under)represented. This is one reason I've written some high-tech articles - which are now complete BTW (3 x 3000 words) and will be published in October to December.

 

[zig]

Dunno.............i think this is the best place for bringing planted tank folks together in the UK, what would having a seperate mailing list achieve that won't be covered here?

People (members) come and go here all the time, very few are still around after a year that post in this section (you could count them on 2 hands) the hardcore to keep something like this going may not exist, anyway just my 2 cent doesn't apply to me anyway..........best of luck anyway if you go ahead with it, no harm in trying to pull it together i guess.

haha.....George doing a ninja on me.......saying the total opposite