Reef logbook

[MRRBW]

I've been using an excel sheet that I have adapted over time as I got more involved in my testing. I was about to purchase an app when I stumbled upon an excel sheet that a fellow reefer has created. By far the best I've seen and it's easy to use. Not sure if it's okay to cross advertise forums, but it can be found here as a free download - big blue link: Aquarium Log Sheet - Page 41 - Reef Central Online Community

The guy who created has offered it to everyone freely, be sure to thank him.

 

[MRRBW]

bump

 

[d2mini]

Logging your stuff is a great idea.
Something everyone should do.
You'd be surprised at how handy it can come in.

Personally, i prefer to use Aquatic Log
I can enter parameters from my phone, it can access your Apex, I can access my info from anywhere with an internet connection on any device.
And you can check out other people's tanks and interact with them.

 

[MRRBW]

I agree, the Aquatic Pro looks like a good place to log. But I don't want to pay 24.99$ for the full version every year. I also don't like the lack of liability the site has if all your data is lost. With an excel file, it's on my computer and my back-up external HD. I don't have an Apex - so controlling it is not an issue. The excel sheet is pretty comprehensive and probably a large step forward for most people, comprehensive as well with nice visuals already tied in. That said, I agree with you 100%, everyone should log their data, my responsibility and attention to my tank has increased probably 100 fold since I started recording my test results and logging the extra entries.

 

[TinpanVA]

Logging your stuff is a great idea.
Something everyone should do.
You'd be surprised at how handy it can come in.

Personally, i prefer to use Aquatic Log
I can enter parameters from my phone, it can access your Apex, I can access my info from anywhere with an internet connection on any device.
And you can check out other people's tanks and interact with them.

+1 Love Aquatic Log

 

[Phishy McGee]

what are the benefits to logging? I test all the time and adjust alk, cal, mg if needed. Why would knowing what my alk was last month help me? just curious as to why people keep these records...

 

[d2mini]

You can export your aquatic log data periodically to back it up.

 

[MRRBW]

what are the benefits to logging? I test all the time and adjust alk, cal, mg if needed. Why would knowing what my alk was last month help me? just curious as to why people keep these records...

True enough, that it the route that I have done for more than 10 yrs keeping my fowlr. That said, it serves many purposes. I'm sure I'll miss some of them and people will keep them for varying reasons. My main reason for it is to develop a sense of responsibility and due diligence. If you see the periods of time between testing it shows you have been slacking and need to tighten up your habits. Secondly, as you adjust either equipment, methods or dosing, you can see changes to your tank and logging your test results is a great way to quantify your results from those changes. Without logging, you can't look back and be certain if what you did had a positive or negative effect. It will also show trends for your fish tank. You may say to yourself one day that your corals have really exceptional color at "x" time. You can look back at your parameters and settings and try to keep your system within those numbers to maintain color. The reason simply go on and on, but overall you decide on how to use the information. For me, like I said earlier, it encourages me to be more responsible and hands on. It gets me more involved and that's never a bad thing. Not sure if this convinces you, I'm writing this after being up for close to 24 hrs, but I hope I conveyed some of the benefits of keeping a log. Not just for reefing, but for any hobby, passion, sport etc.

 

[TinpanVA]

what are the benefits to logging? I test all the time and adjust alk, cal, mg if needed. Why would knowing what my alk was last month help me? just curious as to why people keep these records...

I like it for being able to track history as the above posted said, but also for reminders for maintenance. With everything I have going on day to day, it's hard to remember when I last deep cleaned my skimmer, or when I replaced my bag of purigen. The Aquatic Log site prompts me when these things need done.