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
Shocked.....
- ipcompto (Ian Compton)
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I've said my piece!
Ian
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- wolfie (Anthony)
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edit
just to add i know Andy had a great response in the shop itself and a lot of non forum customers went in after hearing word of mouth.
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- LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
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"The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life; your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you.They're freeing your soul."
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- anglecichlid (ciaran hogan)
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Well said!speaking as someone that regularly uses several stores (when I can afford it), trades online and also does a little (bad) DIY stuff, I don't think this is entirely fair. not posting on the site does not necessarily reflect indifference as a customer and I think you're presuming a lot. Also, to be hard nosed about this, whether it's a full marine set-up or a bottle of milk, customers are entitled to seek out the best deal for themselves. customer loyalty is great and brings benefits of it's own but no one has a moral obligation to keep stores going... and I say this as a loyal customer
I seen Andy's post about closing up but never expressed my thoughts on the matter,
Which was pretty sad to hear!
Now the fact that I didn't say anything means I have a lack of respect?
I don't think so!
Compton stirring up again!
Anyone with a aquarium can keep fish,
But it takes real skill to be a fish keeper,
And it's spongeBob,
SpongeBob lives in a pineapple under the sea
BLANCHARDSTOWN
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- Homer (Kevin)
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Just wanted to say i am really disappointed to see that only 9 people have commented on Aquarium Solutions post about closing down.It really shows the complete lack of respect and indifference this forum has to regarding the future of local Fish shops especially when it was one of the good shops.Maybe if people spent less time swapping stuff on this forum there would no need for shops to close down.Everyone has double standards here to the point where i wonder do people get a kick out of not spending Irish.If you have a problem with a shops price then be upfront about it.....zooplus first quarter for this year was in the millions and millions i think it was 35 million or so......that's shocking.....then supporting chain stores that pop up everywhere that's shocking too...as far as i am concerned no one really gives a dam as long as it doesn't concern them....i think this is wrong so i will speak my mind.One of the reasons i rarely engage here anymore for this reason entirely....i check the recent discussions page and its like a swap shop..........this site has lost its way.......there are only one or two shops on the north side....and you guys are letting them down....you will be left with nothing and it will be your fault........9 replies is all you could muster .....well i am not impressed next time sponsor ship is up for renewal don't come knocking on my door!
I've said my piece!
Ian
Ian,
Some people prefer to use pm or Telephone or indeed , call in person.
Kev.
The Glass is always greener on the other side.
It's NOT "Chee lick", NOT "Chee Chee Licks"!!! Cichlids is pronounced as "Sick Lids"!!!!!
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- Aroshni (Lydia Olivera)
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I don't think is fair blaming the users of this forum at all because we use swaping between us or giving stuff for free. This are normal things that usually happens at communities. For sure there are a lot of customers that never entered in this forum and do deals at adverts, donedeal, gumtree, etc...so let's blame them too.
I think the forum is a good tool and could have better use for sponsors if they use it more, for example as I asked at the website suggestion area.
There are people like Darren who contributes a lot in the forum, so guess where I use to go to shop when I need something and who I look for in the store.
Also a good updated and working website it's very important, because there are a lot of people that use this for knowing the stock of a place before going there and discovering such things are not in stock. For example I tried last week to visit your website from my smartphone and was impossible for me to navigate menus.
I have contacted with sponsors by email and in some cases I got an answer a week later. This for me as a customer is innaceptable mainly because I'm not native in english and sometimes phone communication is hard for me, so I rather using email.
I'm not going to tell anyone how to manage it's business, I can help giving my opinion about what as a customer I think need to be improved.
Lydia
Lowtech Shrimps nano 30l
www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...-lowtech-nano-shrimp
Lowtech Vision 180l Community
www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...-lowtech-vision-180l
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- JohnH (John)
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Just wanted to say i am really disappointed to see that only 9 people have commented on Aquarium Solutions post about closing down.It really shows the complete lack of respect and indifference this forum has to regarding the future of local Fish shops especially when it was one of the good shops.Maybe if people spent less time swapping stuff on this forum there would no need for shops to close down.Everyone has double standards here to the point where i wonder do people get a kick out of not spending Irish.If you have a problem with a shops price then be upfront about it.....zooplus first quarter for this year was in the millions and millions i think it was 35 million or so......that's shocking.....then supporting chain stores that pop up everywhere that's shocking too...as far as i am concerned no one really gives a dam as long as it doesn't concern them....i think this is wrong so i will speak my mind.One of the reasons i rarely engage here anymore for this reason entirely....i check the recent discussions page and its like a swap shop..........this site has lost its way.......there are only one or two shops on the north side....and you guys are letting them down....you will be left with nothing and it will be your fault........9 replies is all you could muster .....well i am not impressed next time sponsor ship is up for renewal don't come knocking on my door!
I've said my piece!
Ian
So you have Ian,
The fact is that in the case of this Forum, lethargy rules.
Any forum - as has been remarked before - is only ever as strong as its contributors make it. We often get as many as thirty-plus registered members logged in, yet very few actually make any posts. So, just perhaps, nine posts wasn't such a bad response after all?
I personally thought of making a post in the 'Closing Down' thread - but since I have never been to Andy's shop I decided against it.
OK, in your eyes that was wrong - maybe it was.
I have to agree that the Forum is becoming/has become more like an extension of BuyandSell. Had you bothered to check you would see that we have made huge attempts to reduce this, largely by changing the restrictions on the use of the Trading Section so that only people who have qualified by satisfying certain conditions are able to make use of this facility.
A word about Forum Sponsorship - we charge nothing for this, only requesting an occasional donation as a Competition prize and since I took on this position (Admin) I have only asked you once and if memory serves me right you donated a €50 voucher more than five years back. Quite a small price to pay for free advertising 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-of-the-year. Renewal isn't by door-knocking - maybe it should be.
So from this I will assume that you wish to be removed from the list of Sponsors?
John
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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.
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- Homer (Kevin)
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There are people like Darren who contributes a lot in the forum, so guess where I use to go to shop when I need something and who I look for in the store.
Lovely, a very valid reason to frequent one LFS more than another, very nicely put !
Kev.
The Glass is always greener on the other side.
It's NOT "Chee lick", NOT "Chee Chee Licks"!!! Cichlids is pronounced as "Sick Lids"!!!!!
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- fishhope (pat)
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- Homer (Kevin)
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When you get a moment from your busy Lifestyle, maybe you would search the Forum and see where you have added one modicom of useful information or help to members of the forum, if you aren't regaling about Travellers attempting to steal or some such B***$h1t it is some other contentious or argumentative clap trap, give it a rest because it is getting really old.
Kev.
The Glass is always greener on the other side.
It's NOT "Chee lick", NOT "Chee Chee Licks"!!! Cichlids is pronounced as "Sick Lids"!!!!!
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- ipcompto (Ian Compton)
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cheers
Ian
Plus my post today is about supporting shops particularly Aquarium solutions....how come it all turns tits up and its a rant about me....?This site has some real issues in that regard......i am not doing this for my own benefit i am doing this to highlight the fact that there will be nothing left in the trade if specialist shops are neglected.....so concentrate on this ....not witch hunting.....this is a worthy topic and i have taken the time to show my point of view.
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- ipcompto (Ian Compton)
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Cant please everyone...
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- ipcompto (Ian Compton)
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cheers
Ian
Okay i have tanks to clean....
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- LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
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Plus my post today is about supporting shops....how come it all turns tits up and its a rant about me....?This site has some real issues in that regard......i am not doing this for my own benefit i am doing this to highlight the fact that there will be nothing left in the trade if specialist shops are neglected.....so concentrate on this ....not witch hunting.....this is a worthy topic and i have taken the time to show my point of view.
however, you did it with a blanket statement about the users of this site ie the people most likely to show customer loyalty and ones who in fairness only represent a small fraction of the customers needed to keep a shop afloat. While the argument for supporting good shops has merit, you're not so much preaching to the choir here as giving them a bollocking for not making everyone else sing
"The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life; your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you.They're freeing your soul."
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- Homer (Kevin)
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Kev.
The Glass is always greener on the other side.
It's NOT "Chee lick", NOT "Chee Chee Licks"!!! Cichlids is pronounced as "Sick Lids"!!!!!
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- darragh (Darragh Sherwin)
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It is very sad indeed to see a shop go but I would like to say that in 9 years since this forum started ( domain first registered on 11-Feb-2004 ) , the number of specific aquatic shops has gone from 2-3 shops to nearly 20-25 shops.
Some of us will remember great shops like Jebi in Rathmines and (original) The Trop Shop that were run by great characters but they have gone by the wayside and it is always sad to see them go especially when I have memories of buying my first tank from Jebi or Dave in the Trop Shop always have tonnes of advice and constantly smoking but I have to say that even with the online presence of big warehouses, the LFS trade has gone from strength to strength over the last 9 years.
And yes, there will be winners and some losers and there will be highs and lows and I have seen some shops leading the way and some shops plodding away with great advice.
I don't know Andy but I wish him all the best with whatever he chooses in the future.
Darragh
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- ipcompto (Ian Compton)
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Ian
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- LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
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"The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life; your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you.They're freeing your soul."
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- Homer (Kevin)
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You are,"eccentric" your words, that isn't always a good thing, you air your opinions but get pissed off when others do the same!
You get the reputation you deserve, lambasting the Members of the Forum only alienate you from same and its members, Andy is closing and this is despite him being a nice and convivial, welcoming Gentleman, those remaining are there because of their customers not despite them.
Kev.
The Glass is always greener on the other side.
It's NOT "Chee lick", NOT "Chee Chee Licks"!!! Cichlids is pronounced as "Sick Lids"!!!!!
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- Homer (Kevin)
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Kev
The Glass is always greener on the other side.
It's NOT "Chee lick", NOT "Chee Chee Licks"!!! Cichlids is pronounced as "Sick Lids"!!!!!
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- JohnH (John)
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John
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We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.
ITFS member.
It's a long way to Tipperary.
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- anglecichlid (ciaran hogan)
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You didn't highlight anything,....and if i get slated for highlighting what is happening...then i was correct in the first place.....
Ian
Andy did when put up the first closing post,
You took it upon yourself and the opportunity to slate the forum and it's members for not giving enough support,
All the backtracking won't change anything now
You've backed yourself into a corner and I think anything you say from here on in will just make it worse!
Anyone with a aquarium can keep fish,
But it takes real skill to be a fish keeper,
And it's spongeBob,
SpongeBob lives in a pineapple under the sea
BLANCHARDSTOWN
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- ipcompto (Ian Compton)
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cheers
Ian
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- Gonefishy (Brian oneill)
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Yo Kev im not talking about individuals...im talking as a group..a forum.....plenty of good guys on here.........anyway ive said my piece...
cheers
Ian
Talking about broad brush statements! Actually very insulting Ian. One foul swoop, you condemned each and every one of us to the position of disinterest. Crap. I just didn't post. This is a community or so I thought and each and every stakeholder can contribute as they see fit...it's not about promoting you or anyone else's business - the more you contribute, the more you get back....I agree with John, for 50quid u certainly get a lot of air time...and dirt cheap at that...
How about adding something positive as opposed to bashing all of us with one big 'Ian-made' bat! You certainly don't speak for me in your commentary as I do certainly care when shops close down, but I can express this in whatever way I wish and when I feel fit to do so....
I know where I shop and it's because of support not criticism....
Have a great evening
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- Homer (Kevin)
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This is, after all, an open forum, if participants don't like the discussions they are free to go elsewhere, as Ian is free to vent his frustrations so are the members, if it offends you, by all means move on to another subject, there are no Guns to anyones Heads to suffer under the stupidity or immaturity of a particular thread, if I don't like a thread or if it doesn't interest me, I look for something that does.
This reminds me of Rubber Neckers at the scene of an accident, looks terrible but just have to keep on looking, I say move on if it offends you.
Kev.
The Glass is always greener on the other side.
It's NOT "Chee lick", NOT "Chee Chee Licks"!!! Cichlids is pronounced as "Sick Lids"!!!!!
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- Homer (Kevin)
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"I wasn't talking about Ian I was talking about the replies to this thread and all the bickering."
I know , I was being facetious.
Kev.
The Glass is always greener on the other side.
It's NOT "Chee lick", NOT "Chee Chee Licks"!!! Cichlids is pronounced as "Sick Lids"!!!!!
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- ipcompto (Ian Compton)
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now if you cant focus on the issue then this conversation has failed......the issue is why do people spend money in superstores and garden centers and on the internet when there are shops out there that work extremely hard at what they do in the interests of the hobby in general.......i am nearly 17 years dealing with the public and i haven a massive personal fish collection that hundreds of people get to see a week...it cost me a fortune to keep this going and my accountant thinks i am crazy for wasting so much money doing it.....i do it because i love it and i enjoying showing people stuff.......and opinions and slagging wont change that for me.....anyone that comes to us and many many many do will vouch for that....you check out all the reviews have on facebook look at the thank yous and positive unedited feedback.....we get gifts and presents cakes and chocs every other day of the week.....thats more important than saving a euro....two customers came in yesterday i set their tanks up on tick cos they were skint......i do that when i can.......what other shop would do that?.........if i have to argue a simple point like this then we are all doomed.......anyway im glad i give you stuff to get your teeth into at least it adds a bit of excitement to the forum ....even though that is not the intention......right off to work i go........got a lot of cheap filters to send out from my crap website.......i noticed not too many were sold to forum members......even though they are cheaper than ebay and zooplus......strange that......
have a nice day if anyone needs any help please mail me i would be delighted to continue to be of service.....
Cheers
Ian
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