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I have small dry-erase boards (aka "whiteboards" stuck to the inside door of my fish cabinets. I note the big things (like when I clean the filters) etc., on that; otherwise I forget how long it's been. I do water changes every Sunday, so I don't bother writing that down.

i do for what fish i have and additions and deaths etc and for big things like new filters,fish food change etc but not for water changes etc..as a result my journal for the past 5 years is only 12 pages in a small 4 inch by 3 inch notebook!!!!!

I dont want to copy it all, so I'll just link to this article that lists an awful lot of good reasons to journal.

One of the best examples... your plants aren't looking quite as good, but with your journal you know exactly how long ago you changed the bulbs. Or, did your outbreak of ich come from a new addition? A temperature change? Just how long ago did you buy those new fish?

Plus, when you have an emergency, having all this info, exactly when you last did a waterchange, when you last added a fish, what you changed when can be the difference between a guess and an accurate diagnostic.

I do not test every single test and record it with every water change, but I do note every water change, and what has happened in the tank. (like two weeks ago the weather got really warm and the tanks went up like 4-5 degrees) Sure, 99% of the time is doesnt mean anything, but when that 1% occurs it sure is great to have all the info available.

I do for breeding records
I don't for water changes, and such



I just started to kinda jot down they way my tank has looked (where plants and pots are) Just because I get sick of my tanks one way for to long.



One thing that for my fish I think is really important is what they eat.....I like to change what they eat and what they didnt try. Also giving new types of food and so on.



Angel Eel

I should for when I need to clean the filters but I would forget to look. I usually have one day where I do all my water changes, clean filters, and clean the tanks, but every now and then I forget to do a water change or I don't have time on the pacticular day.

I used to keep track of maintenance, I don't feel that I need to do it anymore because I can tell what needs to be done with the tank just by looking at it. The only thing I keep track of now is the amount of fertilizer I use on my high light tank.

[hr width='40%'] I AM CRUSHING YOUR HEAD! [/font][/font]

Last edited by trystianity at 24-May-2005 10:58

The only thing I journal is spawning. Breeding my bristlenose I like to know who spawned together, and when, amount of fry etc.

___________________________________________

If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.

I didn't when I had only one tank. Then it was just one waterchange every weekend, maybe another during the week if I felt like it.

Now I have uni, a job, 3 tanks, about 30 adult bettas and 3 betta spawns. I can still manage all the waterchanges (if I'm not at work or uni, then it's time to do a waterchange) but I was slipping up with medicines. Now I've got a notebook near the tanks to keep track of when a fish gets sick, what medicine they get, when they need the next dose, and whether it works or not. I've tried to record waterchanges but keep forgetting. I record any new additions to the tank, too.

But it's just because I'm really disorganised and have a shocking memory. Most people probably wouldn't need a journal, but it can't hurt to have one.

In the beginning I used to keep track of everything: dates of water changes, amount, test results, etc etc.

Now I have a dry erase board in a kitchen cabinet near the sink which is kind of my 'base for operations' I have each tank listed, date of water change, and important info like when fry were born, dates new fish were added, illnesses. I do weekly water changes but not on the weekends so come Monday I just take a look to check which tank is next and go from there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I did for my first two tanks while cycling & stocking. But with my third tank I've not done it all all is going ok.

The diarys' are a great idea for very beginners so you make sure you don't forget something but with practice you grow out of them.

I do still make a note of fishes I might like & the PH temp etc they need to ensure compatability, but the I go to the LFS & go oooh I like that. I've learnt to read up before buying fish as my LFS will sell anything & everything regardless of tank set up.

Na i cant even keep a one for myself.

folks!!! do you keep a journal for your routine maintenance of your tank/s....changing filter, water, CO2, cleaning filter, tank, adding fertilizer and so on???

I did when I was first cycling my tanks, but when it settled into a pattern of sameness, I just let it slide. *shrugs*

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

I do - I have a fishy diary to record my Ammonia and Nitrite levels, water changes, new fish additions (and deaths! .) Being new to the hobby I found it really useful while I was cycling. I think I'll keep it going as long as it's useful as takes 2 seconds to pop in the details.

Last edited by fishymama at 22-May-2005 19:40

Don't keep track....I used to try and keep on a weekly routine of every wendsday do tankX every sat tank Y ect ect ect....that's somewhat slacked off though. I'm able to remember daily dosings and feedings, but ferts I don't normally remember and so dont dose anymore .
Used to keep up with my logbooks on this site....but yeah...havent even updated the pictures .

^_^[hr width='40%']"Cause you can't jump the track,we're like cars on a cable
and life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button girl,
So cradle your head in you hands
And breathe, just breathe..."

i've been doing this for so long that it's pretty much nature now...no need to keep a diary, hopefully won't need one until alzheimer's sets in...

I do for awhile, then slack off, then go back to recording and slack off again I've gotten so that I use the one here on fp...though I used to use one I made myselfheidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

I've never recorded anything. Overall nitrates get tested on every tank at least once a month and ph every few months. I don't really keep track of fertilizers. If I didn't add any fertilizer the last few water changes then I completely dose the tank otherwise it's a partial dose when I think the plants need it. Water changes are when I get around to it. About once-twice a week on the 55g to every few weeks on some of the other tanks. I guess if I had less time to watch my tanks and see what they need then I would probably keep track. But what's the point in having a tank if I don't spend enough time observing it to notice a problem?

NO. even witha half dozen tanks i never felt the need. if theres a problem with a tank its not really something im going to forget. even just recently one of my tanks had a large nitrate spike despite the intense planting. tho i did miss a couple of water changes for various reasons, regardless its not really hard to remember the last reading i took a few days before. log books are great if u have a specific purpose, tho i cant actually think of one right now...
maybe if ur water doesnt come from a municipal supply or something and u want to keep track of seasonal fluctuations...

tankie
Never have in 35+years. I only ever had one tank at a time to worry about and I do all the maintainence on a very regular pattern.

Shock Horror I dont even own a water testing kit. When I go to one LFS I take a sample with me. When I set up the present tank they tested the water for me regually for the first few weeks and the was never a problem.

Keith

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