Aquarium Lighting, News; Reef & Google Search

 

Revised 10-20-13

With the many articles I am a part of either writing, producing pictures, or any other input; one of the best, and most constantly researched is: "Aquarium Lighting; Information & Facts".

However of late I could not help but notice that most readership is from International locations, not the USA. Further I have noted that when exploring USA Reef Forums, many seem to totally ignore the researched FACTS presented in the "Aquarium Lighting" article.
Instead many of these USA Reef Keeping Forums tend to favor LED lighting systems that have older generation emitters or use less than optimum "cool white", "warm white", or green emitters.
Correct Research Based Resource: Aquarium LED Lighting, Lights, Reef, Planted

YET, when I go to forums from other countries (sometimes requiring a translator), I see much more balanced discussions about what makes for good aquarium lighting, reef lighting in particular.

This got me wondering as to "WHY"?

While I do not have an absolute answer, I did notice that a couple of the better websites dealing with complete, accurate and up to date aquarium lighting products/information have fallen "off the grid" in Google, as well a Bing searches, while not so much with Bing, Blekko, or DuckDuckGo which more and more is becoming my search engine of choice.

With Google in particular spam websites (often with duplicate/mirror websites too) come up now in search.



EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

*aquariumlighting.com
*petsmart.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2769134
*amazon.com/s?rh=n%3A2975458011

Please click on the picture for a better view of a screen shot of Google Search results for "Aquarium Lighting"

These are not the types of websites I would expect to see when looking for accurate information or up to date products.
At least Blekko & DuckDuckGo brought up primarily information websites, and decent ones at that.
Similar observations can be made for a search for "Reef Aquarium LED Lights" for which Google mostly produced outdated technology and spam results versus Blekko.
Science Based Product Resource Result: Reef Aquarium LED Lighting

While I can state with some authority as to the accuracy of many of the websites and often poorly researched information presented in many USA Reef Aquarium Forums, I cannot as to the workings of search engines.
HOWEVER the search results speak for themselves, so I urge those who are stuck in Google, or forums such as Reef Central, to think outside the box and look for other sources of information or other search engines other than Google, Bing, etc.
Let me also clarify that I am not saying all search results in Google are bad and all information found in forums such as Reef Central, rather simply look around for information that might reflect more research, professional experience, etc.

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• Reverse Osmosis, Soft Water for Aquarium


• PUR vs PAR in Aquarium Lighting


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Everything Aquatics, Aquarium Forum


Freshwater Fish Profiles


Marine Aquarium Care; Basic to Advanced

Copyright;
Carl Strohmeyer & Steven Wright

Google IS Evil, Content Plagiarism, Aquarium Fish Searches

Google terrible Aquarium and Pond Search results as well as Google Adsense Plagiarism and Refusal to respond to DMCA Complaints, and Websites that Participate in this.

Updated 7-15-20

In this latest addition of Aquarium/Pond "Hall of Shame", I will call out Google whose disingenuous motto is "Don't be evil".
Yet with their use of plagiarized content to place Google Adsense while denying the original content any revenue from Adsense is ANYTHING BUT GOOD!
For those who do not agree, please simply search "Google IS evil" and you will find so much factual information, much of which deals with Adsense Corruption. See this article for one such example: Google; More Evil than you think!

Before I go on to the "meat" of this article I will answer the question of what this subject has this to do with aquarium/pond keeping?
Well admittedly not too much,, HOWEVER if Google continues to tweak their algorithm to favor "cut & paste" aquarium or pond care/supply websites, good researched aquarium information will be much more difficult to find with the end result being your lack of ability to find information to best care for your finned friends.
It is noteworthy that as of July 2013, Google search results have gotten even more spammy!!
A example would be "Aquarium Lighting" where spammy cut and paste information (www.aquarium-lighting-guide.com & others) has leapt to the top of search while the most researched and in depth article on this subject has fallen from page 1 to page 3, UTTERLY DISGUSTING!!

Another example would be where the very in depth and research "Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle" article has fallen well below other cut and paste websites that include one that even recommends the long ago discredited "Raw Shrimp cycling method!! Good job Google, NOT!!

One more example that is really bad in Google Search (not so DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, Bing, etc.) is for the term "Aquarium UV Sterilization".
Since this is a search for a process, that is what I expect; HOWEVER Google brings up products, including crap from PetCo and Amazon that does not even perform true level one UV Sterilization!!!
What is interesting is the article: "UV Sterilization" disappeared from Google search about the time it was plagiarized by about.com, as it appears Google allowed a newer article to usurp information that has been on this article for years, and is the results of much research.
I also suspect, considering it totally dropped off only Google Search that this was a manual removal (not the algorithm), which further makes this utterly disgusting that someone at Google would so blatantly allow my life's work content be used by someone else and then PENALIZE ME for their plagiarism.
On a positive note, after legal threats, about.com did credit me back with a hyper link that I was indeed the source for this quoted information.

Here is an excerpt of the content that was initially used without permission, but I have to give credit that about.com did in the end do the "moral and right thing":
"As for the Redox Balance, this is an often overlooked aspect of both freshwater and saltwater aquarists. The Redox Balance is basically the oxidation and reduction properties of water (the oxidation side of Redox).
Most experts now agree that the Redox should be +300 to -100 mV for marine or +125 to -200 mV for freshwater for healthy fish immunity, which a UV Sterilizer can help maintain this balance."
RESOURCE: "UV Aquarium & Pond Sterilization"

As well if I were a consumer looking for a good product, I would want a search engine to bring up a website that not only sells a certain product I am looking for, but one that is backed by fact based, researched, & regularly updated information about such products.
HOWEVER the FACTS are Google does NOT do this when it comes to product searches in the aquarium or pond supply field.

Finally, I should point out, I too have a family to feed, and employees to pay. So when Google allows plagiarism of my intellectual property, this steals revenues we would have from advertising, and more so loss of reader base which often becomes a customer base. The result here is while I do enjoy helping persons with their aquarium and pond problems, if I cannot pay my bills; I will have to move on to another endeavor.
This results in my many articles from Aquarium Information to Aquarium Answers and many others places as well as my free advice in forums coming to an end.
In fact as per the most recent update of this article the problem of misinformation and spam website coming ahead of sound researched aquarium or pond websites has continued to grow.

If this is not a problem to you or morals are for someone else, go ahead and continue to use Google as your search engine or for other services as well as the many politicians that take generous donations from Google.
Example: Google 'Second Biggest Donor' to Obama, Has Too Much Power

For me, morals are important. Even then if only for selfish reasons, if I were to support other businesses other than ones that help me out, often with free in depth information, it only hurts me in the end. This is also reason alone to NOT support the immoral company that Google is.

However part of the problem with Google is that they often employ persons with "Justin Bieber" type attitudes that might be real pros at what they do at Google, however they have no real world experience and no understanding at all for the knowledge others might have in their field of endeavor. The results is staff at Google challenging me or others as to what makes our websites better than others.
There is no difference than these Google staffers calling out a pHd researcher in pancreatic cancer who claims an article on about.com or a similar site that has a poor information article about pancreatic cancer and challenging his knowledge about cancer research.
YET GOOGLE staffers have done just this in the few conversations I have had!!!

If you are looking for better, less spammy, and more honest search results, besides Yahoo or Bing, consider Duck Duck Go, this search engine appears "get it right" in most of the aquarium/pond information/product searches.

---

See also this Fish as Pets article where Google's Continued Promotion of Cut and Paste Spam sites such as eHow have made quality information often difficult to find, with potential disastrous results for fish keepers:
Aquarium Planaria

---

What is now noteworthy, from the heavy handed Google Apps Infrastructure Transition, to Google recently being caught with their "Street View" stealing persons WiFi Data; many in the media and SEO circles are finally, albeit late, joining the party that finally recognizes that Google simply IS an EVIL company.
See: Google's Street View Spying Was No Accident

Sadly plagiarism of my many articles that represent more than 3 decades experience and 1000s of hours of ongoing research continues at quite the pace.

Worse though is Google in their constant dishonesty no longer answers DMCA complaints knowing full well the cost of legal action from persons such as myself is impossible (this includes Google being caught red handed stealing private information via Google "Street View").
This is not just me, here is a quote from the FCC Report of April 2012:
For many months Google deliberately impeded and delayed the Bureau's investigation by failing to respond to requests for material information and provide certifications and verifications it its responses

As well the legal profession has yet to produce an attorney with the "balls" to force a class upon this disgusting and immoral company that is literally making billions with Google Adsense while refusing to pay one dime to those such as myself from whom the content is/was stolen.

Since some of the companies that place Advertising on stolen content are major buyers of Google Ads, it is highly profitable for Google to NOT force the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act).

In a most recent plagiarism discovery, my "Aquarium Chemistry" article (first draft) was illegally used.

Two major players in this copyright infringement that also do NOT answer to complaints are:
*Dr. Fosters & Smith
*Water Ionizer Expert
Both of the above have Advertised on this Plagiarized Content:
http://cichlids.aquariumfishs.com/the-importance-of-calcium-kh-and-magnesium-in-aquariums/

The second did call us/me back, but only to insult me and call me "nuts" while they laughed their heads off in the back ground.
Why this business (Water Ionizer Expert) felt compelled to verbally abuse me over attempting to defend my life's work that I put out for reader to use for free is beyond me.
However, a little research shows that Water Ionizer Expert is not a company with morals either, since they are scraping others content to sell their products.
See: http://www.waterionizerauthority.com/why-we-no-longer-carry-life-products/

I only ask that if someone chooses to use it in a post of their own, that they place hyper links referencing my original content and any advertiser pays ME for the use of MY content to sell their products or services!!

Others with Ads found illegally placed on our content:
*TruAqua
*LakeLawnand Pond.Com
*LagunaPondsShop

See this screen shot for evidence at the time of this post (click to enlarge for a better view):

It is also noteworthy as per the most recent updates, Google is now allowing many websites without original content and not official product sellers to come up ahead of content driven authorized web sites.
A good example is for the AAP Wonder Shell where clearance product on Amazon comes up first with incorrect use information as well as "Aquarium Co-op" which has attempted to usurp with Googles help the official AAP Wonder Shell web page of American Aquarium Products.
Never mind that American Aquarium Products brought this product to market, has vastly more professional use information, has most all other professional web sites pointing to their web page, and has the full line including Medicated Wonder Shells; Googles corrupt pay to play search engine brings up all the crap ahead of the original authorized selling page!!

What I ask of readers is you have found the many FREE articles I have written at:
*Aquarium Information
With many in depth articles such as UV Sterilization, Columnaris, and more.

*Aquarium Answers and MANY other blogs across the Internet helpful, PLEASE boycott or better write or call the before mentioned websites advertising on MY content.

Even if I eventually succeed in removing this website and or the advertisers, this "battle" will continue as I find my copyrighted content posted websites and blogs on a regular basis., with well over 98% involving Google Adsense or some other form of un authorized advertising revenue generation.

By Carl Strohmeyer.

Recommended Aquatic Sites for Information, Products

AQUARIUM, POND ANSWERS

The article below is a MUST READ for anyone interested in moving from basic aquarium keeping to more advanced aquarium keeping, including better Redox Balance:

Ultraviolet Sterilization, Advanced Aquarium Keeping

UV Replacement Lamps; Aquarium or Pond
For TRUE High Output, Hot Cathode, Low Pressure UVC Germicidal Bulbs, for aquarium or pond. NOT the low output UV bulbs with only 7% UVC sold on many eBay and Amazon web pages that those often using Google Search are duped into buying

Freshwater Aquarium Information & Basics

TMC New Generation Fluidized Sand Bed Filter

Premium, second to NONE Aquarium Bio Filters, that with optional Oolitic Sand, also maintains essential aquarium calcium levels, alkalinity, & electrolytes that are important to ALL Marine life, Goldfish, African Cichlids, Livebearers & more

Aquarium Sponge Filters by ATI & AAP

The Premium ATI Hydro Sponge Filter, from the only online seller with professional use dating back to 1978 (prior to the Internet)

Copyright:
Steven Wright & Carl Strohmeyer

DMOZ; Hall of Shame-2

Aquarium Forums Hall of Shame; Part Two- DMOZ and SEO Chat forums
 


This hall of shame post actually diverts from Aquarium/pond forums to an SEO forum as it relates to DMOZ (SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization).

DMOZ is a human edited directory, staffed by volunteers usually from similar fields to which they edit (which may or may not be a conflict of interest, but I will not question the integrity of those in fields I do not know).
However in the field* I have spent a life’s work, I know that many of the articles that are listed in DMOZ are of poor quality or worse (*aquarium/pond keeping and of which I have been prodded to publish this work for more than a decade before I finally did with my many articles).

To set the stage, let me point out that a quick search of the DMOZ directory under Home, then Pets, then Fish/Aquaria will yield several at best spammy sites “The Baily fish” as one example.
Many of these sites give not necessarily incorrect information, however it is often anecdotal or "cut & paste" which can not give a newbie to advanced aquarist the full picture.
I know from the many emails, aquarium forums posts, and my old maintenance business questions posed that even simply incomplete information can lead to confusion as to correct procedures of fish care, often with disastrous results.

Another site listed is Fish Lore, this site dates to 2007 (I requested a listing in 2005), and again while this site is not necessarily bad, it is often VERY anecdotal such as an article about the Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle where they have resurrected the long ago discredited by aquarium professionals method of using Raw Shrimp to cycle an aquarium. While this method can work, it also increases the risk of inducing a Saprolegnia infection in a new fish keepers tank; frankly this is IRRESPONSIBLE and for DMOZ to accept this previously noted web site and reject in depth, researched articles such as The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle is simply disgusting (especially when one considers the number of researchers outside the often anecdotal aquarium hobby that have written with their praise of this article and others from this website).
Fish Lore also has misinformation in other subjects such as UV Sterilizer and Melafix Dangers.

Another problem is that Google can give a lot of weight to its searches to sites that are listed in the DMOZ directory, so often searches can be skewed as well here, allowing these anecdotal or downright dangerous web sites come to the top of searches (such as the before mentioned web sites)!

An example of a recent email question as of initial writing of this article led me to this Google Search: “freshwater aquarium calcium” which yielded some reasonable sites as to Marine Aquarium Calcium, of which the need is better understood, yet for the less understood but still important subject of freshwater aquarium calcium, the search came up dry.
This is unfortunately an important subject as correct fish osmoregulation depends on calcium and other electrolytes as well.

Now, back to Seo Chat Forums; I posted on a thread about “shutting down DMOZ” with this comment:

“I do not claim to be an expert in DMOZ or its editors, and maybe 90% are ethical and do the right thing.
However what I can say after 30 plus years in the aquarium industry in research, maintenance and sales is this hobby/industry is extremely anecdotal, passing around the same tired information over and over, never using research from much better funded industries (such as Horticulture, marine research, human drug studies, etc, etc.) to back up what is stated.
For instance I see this in aquarium lighting, where the newer technology T2 and SHO lights are nowhere to be found except in use by aquarium professionals that have to use and stand by their choices on a daily basis.
Another point is a person that worked at an Aquarium Supply distributor as a manager near the end of his career told me a few years back: “I have worked in management for the past 30 years of my life and never have I seen a more back stabbing, dishonest and corrupt industry until I took this job.
My point is unfortunately Google gives weight to DMOZ, and even though many editors may well be good, honest persons, I know from my past three years of submissions that this is not true based on what I do know to be true.”

See:
http://forums.seochat.com/open-directory-project-13/shutdown-dmoz-190038.html
http://forums.seochat.com/open-directory-project-13/dmoz-and-google-199094.html

I am not sure how this previously noted statement got twisted that I am stating that all the editors are corrupt, or how ended up with me being accused of being a liar (& worse) multiple times, however I will state from my own submissions to a very low volume category (fish/aquaria) that my aquatic information site is still sitting there.
At the least the fact that so many so-so sites exist while mine and other more current research sites are not added makes the point that this is a poor source for viable aquatic information.
At worst it is possible that other sites are being “sat on” based on an editor who is trying to keep his/her agenda in there and block other information that has mores facts that would make their favorites look bad. Read whatever you want into this or my statement on the forum, but this is not a lie, nor is this a charge that all editors at DMOZ are corrupt.

Fathom who is one of the more vicious posters (as per his attacks on me and often others as well) in this forum stated that he is “passionate about this subject”, well he has that right to be, but I too have a right to be passionate about the subject of aquatic misinformation that often makes new aquarists quit and often even frustrates advanced aquarists when information they are seeking is either anecdotal, corrupt, or simply cannot be found and DMOZ along with Google often do not make this easy.
As well, this same person suggested that I get a job on the board at Google which is a ludicrous statement, when all I was stating is that either DMOZ changes some procedures or (better) Google gives less weight to DMOZ directory sites (or other so called “authority sites”) and more to content (which includes links within this content to other research, often of university level to back up the content).
This is a simple matter of “doing what’s right” rather than ridiculous statements such as were directed at me.

I will admit that I finally stood up for myself with an example of a different attack after his comments about getting a job on the board of directors at Google or an editor at DMOZ with this statement:

“But what is really troubling to me now, is this is almost the exact answer I got from children's services (DHS, DCS) when asking them to do the right thing after several reports to them about my kids after my daughter’s molester was trying to turn the tables by redirecting this corrupt organization against me.
What a sad world we live in when this is the answer to doing what is right.”

I am sorry, but I was told similar (to get a job, run for county commissioner) if I did not like what was being done and this hit a raw nerve, especially in light of recent problems with this persons and my daughter’ nightmares.
My admittedly harsh response brought out the real evil venom from two individuals and a childish response to remove ALL credibility I had gained over two years of being on this forum (which is a silly system IMO besides that allows this).

This forum still publishes some good articles and has some good people with good information posting there (such as Egol), however the moderation there is poor or non existent (IMO) and this guy along with others often will attack others that due not agree with their world view.
In fact I have since gone back and looked the over the forum category that this thread was under and this guy in his so-called passion (which I have no right to have my own passion according to this horrible monster of a human being) still uses the same tired line of "why don't you become an editor if you do not like it.
This is the most lame argument IMO when all others ask for is more honesty in DMOZ, however the system is set up with the Fox guarding the Hen House in possibly many categories with areas of conflict of interest that would be thrown out in a court of law is all good and proper at DMOZ.

I will however point out that even with the down right evil statements this person directed at me (and was backed up by other mean spirited persons), I am in NO way saying he does not look at all admissions in his category through an unbiased eye, in fact I know for a fact that my Brothers Toffee Company Web site got added very quickly by DMOZ.
However my original point that the way the system is set up at DMOZ, which includes way to much authority given by Google, but with some in this forum,it appears Google IS GOD so no argument can be made on this subject either.
This attitude can allow either anecdotal or worse; dishonest editors to run a muck, and this is a FACT at the very least for the Aquarium Pets: Fish and Aquaria Category.
The bottom line is just because the Candy Category (Shopping: Food: Confectionery: Taffy and Toffee) may all happy and honest, does not mean others are.

Finally, despite comments made in defense of this guy in SEO Chat that he is passionate about this subject so he often gets hostile due to this, I too am passionate about aquarium keeping, as I have sacrificed MUCH (better pay and more) to spend time in research and more on this subject as I know how much MANY care about their finned friends and that so much of the bad information that permeates the internet passes through Google and DMOZ and I feel this is simply WRONG.

This is simply my passion for which many who honestly know me will attest to the fact that I will often go an extra mile to help other here!
Why should I give even more of my free time (of which I have NONE) editing DMOZ simply because this guy says I have no credibility unless I do when I already give much of my free time objectively helping other with their aquariums navigate around the myriad of bad information that Google and DMOZ seem to happily provide?
The Answer of coarse, is NO

I will close that I again am not condemning all editors at DMOZ nor SeoChat (I still read and occasionally post questions as there are some very knowledgeable persons there), but there clearly are issues at DMOZ in the aquaria category and clearly are issues at SeoChat when it comes to moderation and the lack of banning of certain individuals.

Updated 10/21/12 Some persons simply cannot help themselves at SEOCHAT! I went there for SEO help with this website and while no one would deny the website is far from great (it is a community project too I might add), these guys went on a flaming attack insulting me and my employees who also registered there to defend my. Both employees were banned for life, despite saying nothing wrong other than telling persons to simply behave and answer the question (in particular one moderator). I ended up having to defend what it was about, despite part of the idea 6 years ago came from helpful persons at SEOCHAT (as per making niche sites for link juice). What seemed difficult to get across is that this site has done very well for keywords such as "Melafix Dangers", and all I was looking to do is gain back these search terms in Google (not a problem in Bing). Even one person who was somewhat helpful did not get that persons have saved their fish due corrections of cut and paste information such as "Melafix Dangers" and "Aquarium Planaria". In the end I too was temporarily banned for calling the moderator childish for banning my co-workers, yet his abusive tone and that of one of his clone friends stands. An example such as calling me "Beyond help" is somehow not considered abusive there, or even his first remarks such as unreadable without giving any examples of SEO issues. As for unreadable, my feedback would disagree and in fact we have gotten recent compliments for the new banner (which was professionally done, in other words I did not make this). Anyway, I will say no more other than a few friends and business partners I have shared this link with had a good laugh and agreed their behavior was in indeed childish and unprofessional. Here is the link (you will need to copy and paste it into your browser) http://forums.seochat.com/site-reviews-17/www-fish-as-pets-com-462842-4.html?#post1086159

Here is a thread to read for more evidence of the attitude and downright hate espoused at SEOChat Forums: Please paste in your browser http://forums.devshed.com/c-programming-42/how-do-i-close-my-account-881201.html Readers can form their own opinion based on how a person asks a simple question and then gets attacked and told "I'd kick you off the internet if I could...."

Here are just a few of the sites where many 1000s of hours worth of research, hands on experience, and yes even corrections to my own mistakes have gone into (I have MANY more):


Aquarium Lighting



POND CARE; Information,Clear Water - Proper Pond Filtration, Cleaning, care, chemistry & Basics for maintaining a beautiful garden pond

Recommended Aquatic Sites	Premier Articles include Aquarium Lighting, Aquarium Chemistry; Calcium & more, etc.
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