Logs/Journals

[bobtrop]

Does anyone keep a log or journal of activities involving their tanks? For example, water chemistry readings, when a tank is set-up, new fish purchases, notes on breeding, etc.? I'd like to just use a tablet or looseleaf binder to record things rather than creating some kind of a spreadsheet or whatever. I haven't been able to find any decent software anyway that could be used. If anyone does and has some samples of what they record, I'd appreciate seeing what you use. Thanks.

 

[Nidge]

ye i have a diary i use to keep records of stuff in the tank, i find that i forget previous readings and writing them down is great.

 

[Fiddlesticks]

Thats a great idea. Iv been planning to do that for a while now , but keep forgetting to start. Maybe I should write it downlol

 

[totalbolshevik]

I have a log book but I always forget to log stuff in it... I used to write water parameters, how much tank water I changed, whether I changed the filter carbon, stuff like that. Also it's a good idea to make a page for every fish you buy--write the species, size, date of purchase, date of death (when they do die), any diseases they've gotten and how you treated them, any unusual habits or feeding requirements they have, that kind of thing.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi bobtrop

Welcome to the forum!

You raised an excellent question. I know I should keep track of things, but seem to have nothing but a lot of little post-it notes and bits of scrap paper cluttering up my desk.

I wish someone would come up with some software to make things easier for us fishkeepers.

 

[lizard]

I do <raises and waves hand>. Well, I did anyway. Haven't for quite awhile, 'cause my fish were at someone else's place for awhile, then a lot of them died, and then I moved again, and I didn't have my computer set up and, well, you know... I just got my tank "settled" at my new place now, and haven't started keeping records again. I probably should, however.

When I was keeping records, I simply did it using Excel (spreadsheet program). Each tank had its own "worksheet" in the file. On the top of the spreadsheet, I typed in what tank it was. Then, in the first column, I put down the date. I then made columns for each water test I had (gH, kH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, etc.), then I think I had a column for notes, one for meds, % water change done, and I forget what else. The file's not on this computer, so I can't check and see. Then I simply filled in the date and anything that "happened" on that day. Of course, I didn't run every test every day, nor did I make notes every day, unless the tank was getting treatment or its residents got moved around. I made notes when I added plants, added or removed fish, if fry were born, if a fish died, etc. It worked quite well and after the initial time it took to put it together, it was fairly quick. Once I have my computer up and running, I can e-mail people the file if they want to see it.

That answer your question sufficienty?

Pamela
aka Lizard

 

[StanTheBetta]

I have a log book but I always forget to log stuff in it... I used to write water parameters, how much tank water I changed, whether I changed the filter carbon, stuff like that. Also it's a good idea to make a page for every fish you buy--write the species, size, date of purchase, date of death (when they do die), any diseases they've gotten and how you treated them, any unusual habits or feeding requirements they have, that kind of thing.

Do you do that for each individual fish? Or like several fish of the same species you purchased at the same time? Because I can't tell the neons or the serpaes apart

Hopefully I'll be taking those serpaes back soon, I keep forgetting to call and ask if they'd give me some store credit for them

 

[Doggfather]

i used to keep a log, but i got too lazy and stopped, i really should start again

 

[konrad05]

I kept a log only for the first month or so when I started my 55 gallon out. If you're interested or have the time to read, the link is

here

Hope it's educational

 

[Guppylover]

I only keep journals to remind me when to do water changes and when to clean my filter ^__^