Tips and Techniques

[SandMan8388]

It seems like the more that I read on this website, the more tips and techniques everyone seems to have. So I thought it might be cool to hear a couple others as well, that you may do that we haven't heard of. For instance, when I buy new fish I tape the recipt to my quarantine tank. So if the fish has a problem, I know exactly where to find the recipt. I also write the type of fish and date as well on the recipt. For me it's the smaller stuff that makes things alot less complicated. Anyone else?

 

[Angry_Platy]

I have an aquarium diary. Its a day-to-a-page diary where I write in notes on the fish, when I change the food, what I feed them each day (i.e. flakes or frozen food), behavioural changes in the fish, possibly pregnant fish, sick fish, what medication is in my quar tank. Also in this goes receipts from fish I buy stating how much I paid, where the fish is from. Also when I change my DIY CO2 etc. Basically anything that happens to my tank goes in there. It is getting quite full!! That way if there are problems with the fish or the water I can backtrack to where I may have done something different.

I also have a pinboard/whiteboard thingy above my 30gal tank where I write immediate stuff...like ATM I am slowly increasing the amount of days between food....prepapring for going away for 5 days....that way I can keep track of when I fed last (I am upto 3 days without food now)..as well as things like meds in the quar tank, salt etc (for immediate reference if I need to add anything else)....also my CO2 recipe cause I always forget it.

 

[pjfish]

I keep a log of what/when/why I do things to the tanks. Also, ALWAYS make sure there is a towel handy.

 

[SandMan8388]

That's pretty cool I never thought of keeping a journal. I need to get a pinboard or dry erase board though.

 

[debiasir]

the first thing is to join a helpful, friendly forum for good advice but you have done that lol.

Get friendly with your LFS, go in and have talks with them about fishkeeping, if they are a good shop they will advise you correctly and help you were they can, like mine allways asks me how my fish are doing and will always give me advice over the phone.

also keep a log as the others have said.

don't impulse buy fish, its so tempting and most of us have done it and 50% of the time have to return the fish so researching a fish you want is paramount in my opinion.

also have fun and enjoy your tank and fish.

 

[One_Trick_Pony]

yeah keep a towel and a blow nearby and if you have really plnats something to prun them with

 

[freddyk]

Always know what you need to know before entering the fish store. Rely on your own research first and formost.

 

[SirMinion]

Always know what you need to know before entering the fish store. Rely on your own research first and formost.

Yep, and if we're going fish shopping, or even if we think we might visit a fish store while we're out & about, we always take our main library of trusted books with us for reference.

• Baensch Aquarium Atlases Volumes 1 - 4
• Aqualog's All L Numbers
• Aqualog's All Coradoras
• Aqualog's The Puffers Of Fresh & Brackish Waters

Allways prepared!

 

[lizard]

Yep, and if we're going fish shopping, or even if we think we might visit a fish store while we're out & about, we always take our main library of trusted books with us for reference.

• Baensch Aquarium Atlases Volumes 1 - 4
• Aqualog's All L Numbers
• Aqualog's All Coradoras
• Aqualog's The Puffers Of Fresh & Brackish Waters

• 
  We have Baensch 1-3 at work and I love those books! However, I happen to not have $200 to spend on books right now, so I shall have to look at them when I'm at work. I should see about getting those other three books in for reference at work...
  
  To keep water off the carpet, I put a clear shower curtain under my tank stand. When I'm not doing water changes, I put it under the stand. When I do a water change, I pull the shower curtain out.
  
  Pamela
  aka Married Lizard