Aquarium Records?

[NWMountainTroll]

I was just wondering if any of you keep records of water quality, fish health, and other such things? I am going to try to put a chart together for my aquarium to keep track of ammonia levels, water temperatures, etc. Looking for tips on what I should include on my chart and how I should organize it :thumb: Thanks!

[Drumachine09]

2 words: Microsoft Excel


Uhoh Chrona, we got another troll, looks like you will have to battle for dominance.

[cocoa_pleco]

Fight To The Death!!!! Lol

[NWMountainTroll]

Microsoft Excel is what I am planning on using, love it. I am thinking of doing sections for my tests, and then a section for remarks. Similar to the fuel quality checks that we keep at work, they're daily reports of things such as clarity, particles, etc. Modified for information I need of course, any suggestions on what sort of thing I should be testing and how frequently?

[cocoa_pleco]

for water, nitrite, nitrate, ph, ammonia, etc.


Nice avatar! lol

[Severus]

I printed charts off of Excel and i write down all my water readings everytime i do a test.

[Chrona]

Regular testing:
pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, temperature (should be a given)

Somewhat regular testing:
Phosphates

One time testing:
Water hardness, silicates (in tap water)

Planted tank testing:
gH, alkalinity, dissolved CO2 (usually derived from pH/hardness), potassium

Obviously not all the tests are necessary, I'm just throwing them out there. Don't bother with iron test kits though.

And yes, I will fight you to the death for position of forum troll. RAWR

[cocoa_pleco]

ill get my pay-per-vu set up

[jweintraub]

I do bi-weekly(1 tank each week) Temp, PH, ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate and just keep updating it on my computer each time I do the tests.

[bettaboy691]

i just have a note pad, that i write what i do and see. if i see a fish acting wired, i write it down, if i feed something different than the usally, i write it down. even things like water changes, adding new fish, or small things like plants being moved or me putting my hand in the tank to move something it gets noted down. its simple and like writing a fish diary.
i also note down tank water tests when i do them.

[Rue]

I keep an aquarium calendar, and write everything down on there (in shorthand of course! :D)...

...makes it very easy to see when I did what...

[Faith_at_Large]

Microsoft Excel is probably the best. I will be generating my own record form over the weekend. When I first set up my current 10g, I found a Geocities site that had a free instruction section on how to make your own aquarium log, even had the sheets to print off. I also downloaded the Reefcon 2000 free tank management software. I like it and it can be used for multiple tanks; however, there is just something about having a portable record book that I can write in with a pen and carry with me from the tank to a comfy chair.