×
Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

Time (AGAIN!) to ask you to vote...

More
01 Aug 2017 09:04 #1 by JohnH (John)
For your adjudication:

Entry 01


Entry 02


Entry 03


Entry 04

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
01 Aug 2017 09:07 #2 by JohnH (John)
Entry 05


Entry 06


Entry 07


Entry 08

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
01 Aug 2017 09:11 #3 by JohnH (John)
Entry 09


Entry 10


Entry 11


Entry 12

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
01 Aug 2017 09:17 #4 by JohnH (John)
Entry 13:


Entry 14


Entry 15


Entry 16


Now - here's the 'copy-and-paste' bit:

Usual terms and conditions apply - here's a 'copy-and-paste' from an earlier round:

Above are the entries you are being asked to vote on.

As before, please cast your (three) vote(s) for those in preference - in other words please vote - entry number - order of preference (with #1 being your favourite, #2 being your second favourite and - you'll never guess...#3 your third favourite). In other words #1 gets three points, #2, 2 points and =3 one point.

Look them through, make your choices then send them to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
before midnight on Sunday.
Please add your Forum user name to help the process run smoothly. I think that's about it, oh no - a reminder that you may not vote for your own entry.

But do please vote, if we only receive a handful of votes the final result is not really an accurate representation of the Forum membership.

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
06 Aug 2017 09:49 #5 by JohnH (John)
Thanks (as usual) to the six people who have voted up to now, if you do plan to send in votes please remember voting ends at midnight tonight.

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
06 Aug 2017 23:42 - 07 Aug 2017 08:55 #6 by JohnH (John)
OK so, there seems little point in prolonging the agony for those who sent in contributions so here are the placings:

First is Craig Fishmad's picture of his L046 - entry #12,
Second is again Craig's Angel guarding eggs - #04,
joint third we have Bill's Betta Coccina - #10
& a Peacock Goby - #14,
fifth is a four-way tie between #02 (Aldrin's Oranda),
# 05
(Corydoras Paleatus) ,
#07 (Jonlate's marine thingy) &
#11 (Craig [again]'s) Rams this time guarding eggs.

Congratulations to the winners and thanks so much for those who both submitted (and voted for) all entries.

I'll organise the prize list in the morning (getting a bit sleepy now) and (being a glutton for punishment) start a further round thereafter for the benefit of those members who like to participate. Of course, that doesn't mean the others of you should refrain from entering - all are welcome.

Edit:

As intimated here is (yet another) 'copy-and-paste' of the prize donations for July's round:
Our prize donations (in no particular order) are Ger's pack of Catappa Leaves, Craig's 5 Cories - and a second donation of Catappa Leaves, Jonlate's Floating Plants, and conditional upon us getting a minimum of 24 images, Bill's Prize. I'll add another Azoo 100w heater (again, brand new, but in a less-than pristine box). As a postscript to this Bill has decided to waive his 'entry-number' condition for this round so to this can be added the 100g pack of freeze-dried Tubifex worms too.
You will have seen that Craig has generously passed on any prizes so perhaps the other winners can get their heads together and work out between them who gets what - so to speak.
I would just like to add a sincere note of thanks to members who donated this round, it adds a bit of interest to (hopefully) spike the interest and also (again, hopefully) encourage more members to enter in future rounds.

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.
Last edit: 07 Aug 2017 08:55 by JohnH (John). Reason: Added prize details

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
07 Aug 2017 01:21 #7 by fishmad1234 (Craig Coyle)

OK so, there seems little point in prolonging the agony for those who sent in contributions so here are the placings:

First is Craig Fishmad's picture of his L046 - entry #12,
Second is again Craig's Angel guarding eggs - #04,
joint third we have Bill's Betta Coccina - #10
& a Peacock Goby - #14,
fifth is a four-way tie between #02 (Aldrin's Oranda),
# 05
(Corydoras Paleatus) ,
#07 (Jonlate's marine thingy) &
#11 (Craig [again]'s) Rams this time guarding eggs.

Congratulations to the winners and thanks so much for those who both submitted (and voted for) all entries.

I'll organise the prize list in the morning (getting a bit sleepy now) and (being a glutton for punishment) start a further round thereafter for the benefit of those members who like to participate. Of course, that doesn't mean the others of you should refrain from entering - all are welcome.



Well done to everyone who entered and also voted it takes less then a minute to vote I can never understand why people don't vote.

John In regards to prizes what ever 1st and 2nd place prizes are either give them to other people on the list or put them back in the prize pool for next month


Regards
Craig

at the end of the day it becomes nite

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
07 Aug 2017 06:28 #8 by robert (robert carter)
Well done to all great photos

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
07 Aug 2017 08:43 #9 by JohnH (John)

OK so, there seems little point in prolonging the agony for those who sent in contributions so here are the placings:

First is Craig Fishmad's picture of his L046 - entry #12,
Second is again Craig's Angel guarding eggs - #04,
joint third we have Bill's Betta Coccina - #10
& a Peacock Goby - #14,
fifth is a four-way tie between #02 (Aldrin's Oranda),
# 05
(Corydoras Paleatus) ,
#07 (Jonlate's marine thingy) &
#11 (Craig [again]'s) Rams this time guarding eggs.

Congratulations to the winners and thanks so much for those who both submitted (and voted for) all entries.

I'll organise the prize list in the morning (getting a bit sleepy now) and (being a glutton for punishment) start a further round thereafter for the benefit of those members who like to participate. Of course, that doesn't mean the others of you should refrain from entering - all are welcome.



Well done to everyone who entered and also voted it takes less then a minute to vote I can never understand why people don't vote.

John In regards to prizes what ever 1st and 2nd place prizes are either give them to other people on the list or put them back in the prize pool for next month


Regards
Craig


Thanks Craig, a very generous gesture on your behalf, fair play.

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
08 Aug 2017 10:30 #10 by Bill (Bill Hunter)
Well done everybody. A bit of good fun, apart from great photos, let me know who wants the freeze-dried tubifex cubes and I'll get them in the post. I've been having a few days break over in Bonnie Scotland and just got home at 1am this morning.
Bill

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
08 Aug 2017 13:35 #11 by Jonlate (Jon Late)
Hi,

Well done to all for being brave enought to send in your photos.

Quick question, does this mean you are giving prizes out to 5th place winners? (Can you be a winner in 5th place?) That means 8 prizes

I thought it was only top 3 that get the prizes, the rest of us are just congratulating losers, and upset we didn't win, but will still try again next month in the hope that the "sewage worms" are still not taken. ( because it's not about the prizes, it's the taking part that counts!!)

Anyway, it me see what photos I can put in this month.

J

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
08 Aug 2017 15:12 #12 by Bill (Bill Hunter)
Good questions. It could be we have 1st 2nd and 3rd and carry the other prizes forward to the next month. Or, if there are 5 prizes then award 1st to 5th etc.
Another thing that could be tried is; award 1st to 3rd each month and keep all extra prizes aside as a prize hamper for the person with most wins/points over the year. A couple of reasonable ploys to encourage more entries?
By the way, I often have seen two or three people "want to see photos" when someone introduces themselves to the forum, I do hope those people are among the entrants each month : :) :

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
10 Aug 2017 14:34 #13 by Jonlate (Jon Late)
That's what I think we should do. Let 1-3 chose what they want and carry the rest of the prizes over to the next month.
Then do a December round for any left over prizes!

So from what I can work out it's Craig and Bill!

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
10 Aug 2017 15:32 #14 by JohnH (John)
It really isn't quite as simple as that, both Craig and Bill have declined any prize - this is why it was left open for the 'lesser' places to accept a reward for their efforts this time around.
Since no-one is coming forward - largely, I suspect because like most consistent entrants, they're only doing this to support the rounds - ALL prizes will roll over to the August round. But unless we do start to either get more entrants or the winners start accepting the donated prizes it almost seems not worth the efforts of the generous prize donors and we should stop requesting any further gifts (which no-one is accepting anyway).

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
10 Aug 2017 19:00 #15 by robert (robert carter)
Hi John , as you say its a pity that more people dont take part , those that do including myself do it for fun and to show off their fish . Seeing its the same few people every time do we really need prizes at all.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
11 Aug 2017 09:21 #16 by Bill (Bill Hunter)
As John says, we should let them roll-over until prizes start being accepted. If they aren't all used up by December then we can try a bumper prize round for Christmas.
We have two problems; one, we struggle to get entrants and two, we struggle to get winners to take prizes :))
Anyway, it would be great if we could get more entries. I can't understand the reluctance.
I think Craig should get the ball rolling and choose a prize :)
Bill

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
11 Aug 2017 11:26 #17 by fishmad1234 (Craig Coyle)

As John says, we should let them roll-over until prizes start being accepted. If they aren't all used up by December then we can try a bumper prize round for Christmas.
We have two problems; one, we struggle to get entrants and two, we struggle to get winners to take prizes :))
Anyway, it would be great if we could get more entries. I can't understand the reluctance.
I think Craig should get the ball rolling and choose a prize :)
Bill



Bill the hamper idea is fantastic.


It would be great if the sponsors could chip in with some prizes if it was to much to ask for every prizes every month from them then maybe ask them to donate prizes every 3 months or so I know Ian had from aquatic village had offered a prize last year did the winner of that month get the prize off him????.


And bill the prizes aren't that important at the moment its the same few people entering the same few people voting even the same people donating the prizes so at the moment it's all about keeping the photo competition running and hopefully eventually more people start getting involved.


Regards
Craig

at the end of the day it becomes nite

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
12 Aug 2017 09:43 - 12 Aug 2017 09:43 #18 by Bill (Bill Hunter)


Bill the hamper idea is fantastic.

It would be great if the sponsors could chip in with some prizes if it was to much to ask for every prizes every month from them then maybe ask them to donate prizes every 3 months or so I know Ian had from aquatic village had offered a prize last year did the winner of that month get the prize off him????.
Regards
Craig


I think the issue about asking sponsors for prizes is that it is awkward getting prizes from them valued at €50 and upwards, and in the case of Aquatic Village in excess of €100 for only 4 people entering. It was getting unfair to accept them with so few people entering. That was why we donated prizes ourselves.
It was my daughter, Róisín who won the lovely tank which was donated by Aquatic Village. She has a few tetras in it, cardinal and neon, but, although she hasn't lost interest completely, she is certainly not as enthusiastic as she was, but that is life with 12/13-year-olds. I don't push her, that way she won't be put off altogether; I suspect she will be back to it one day, she continues to look after her tank in her bedroom in the meanwhile.
Bill
Last edit: 12 Aug 2017 09:43 by Bill (Bill Hunter).

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
12 Aug 2017 14:13 #19 by Jonlate (Jon Late)
That's good to hear that she is still using the tank, and you havent stolen it from her.
In the years to come she may take it up again seriously. Until then keep encouraging her.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
12 Aug 2017 17:31 #20 by Bill (Bill Hunter)

That's good to hear that she is still using the tank, and you havent stolen it from her.
In the years to come she may take it up again seriously. Until then keep encouraging her.

She is animal crazy, Jonathan, I have no doubt she will be back sooner rather than later, at that age there is always something going on and so many things to do. I'm tempted to steal it, but I may lose my hand lol
Bill

Please Log in to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 0.113 seconds
Powered by Kunena Forum