System

[FBTgirl]

I need a system. I feed my bettas sometimes 2 times a day and other times 4 times. I cant remember when I feed them and when I last changed water. Would a Calender help me? I am so confused at times. Like I cleaned the tank 2 days ago and I think I cleaned it 2 weeks ago! I really need a system. Can you guys give me ideas on how to sort out my mayhem? I cant remember when I bought my fish or anything like that after about a week I loose track.

 

[karmagl]

Well I feed every morning so it's easier for me. But on water changes my day is wed. Every wed I know that I have to clean the tank. If I do it a day early though it throws off my schedule.

 

[laurasbetta]

write it in your planner/calendar. that's what i used to do until i got in the habit. and don't change how often you feed them (i think that's what you're saying you do), instead get in to the habit of feeding them once in the morning and once in the evening. i go by when i eat. after i've had breakfast, walnut gets his and after i've had dinner, walnut gets fed again. this also helps to remind myself that i need to feed ME.

 

[Tolak]

I keep a spiral binder, plain lined paper, for a fish log. With 20 tanks, a busy breeding & sales operation, water changes & other tank maintenance, and auctions & such on the weekend there is no way I could keep it all straight in my head. I refer to all my tanks by a number, 10 gallons are 10-1, 10-2, 29's are 29-1, 29-2, and so on for as many of that size tank I have running.

So, if I have a slow period, am low on fish & need to shut down a tank, I write the tank in the left margin, with the date, for example, 4/16/07, 20-6, then to the right I write in "Transfer 12 gold & 3 black angels to 29-5, drain, rinse, & store tank". I then write 29-5 in the margin, and to the right what I did with that tank.

Whatever I do with a tank I write the date along with the tank number in the margin, and what I did with that tank, whether it be a water change, switching of fish, adding or selling fish, fish purchased, whatever. This is the only way I can keep any of it straight. I number the tanks with a sharpie, and will often write the tank temperature, along with spawn & hatch dates on it.

Using a notebook allows me to use as little, or as much space as I need. A slow night like tonight, with no water changes, will only take a few lines. A busy weekend will take up a page. A planner doesn't have the room for a busy weekend.