Revisited: Keeping a log book
Aquarists hale from all walks of life. We work in all professions, we live all over the world, and we all love our tanks! The best part is that each of us brings our own personal experiences, our own sensibilities, to the craft. It is fun to discuss marine husbandry with other aquarists because you can learn a lot about the different approaches people use to have success in this hobby. For my own part, I am not only a writer, I am a biologist. My scientific training has led me to adopt a decidedly deliberate and meticulous set of methods. While it may not be necessary to be as overly comprehensive as myself, taking a few extra steps will help you become a more advanced aquarist. Todays Tip From the Pros is a recommendation to create a log book.
Why should we log our aquarium activities? A log book provides the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the ecology going on within the aquarium system. The ecology is simply the sum of the interplay amongst biological and non-biological factors within the tank, but its machinations can be quite subtle. Most of the time, people see something going wrong in their tank, run a slough of tests, and try to extrapolate an explanation from a tiny sample of information. The log provides a view into long term water quality patterns which may be more informative than knowing the parameters on the day of the disaster. More importantly, log books provide a way to diagnose issues prophylactically, which can lead to life saving treatment. For example, an improperly buffered tank can slide into an acidified state due to CO2 buildup. The acidification can cause a multitude of problems, not all of which are obvious. A depressed pH level can mask the build up of the ammonium ion, which is harmless by itself. However if the pH then returns to normal, the ammonium ion suddenly converts to dissolved ammonia gas, which we all know to be highly toxic. A consistent logging system will help you avoid such a situation because you will be clued in to the sliding pH levels long before they become detrimental.
As evinced by the pH example, a huge advantage of the log book is that you will inevitably gain a stronger understanding of the fundamentals of marine chemistry, which is essential if you wish to become an expert or professional aquarist. Since we all started somewhere, most expert aquarists can commiserate with novices. They are floating in an abyss of confusing and conflicting information. In fact, we all are in a way, since there is so much about the marine domain we simply do not know. Fortunately, you do not really need to know that much to start having some limited success, which is probably the reason anyone gets past the level of keeping blue chromis and mushroom polyps (not that there is anything wrong with either animal, of coursethey are just easy to keep). In fact, it is surprising how little an aquarist can know and still create a pretty tank. The most difficult part of marine husbandry is going from having a nice tank to having one which elicits flowery adjectives like amazing, spectacular, and stunning. Possessing even a basic comprehension of the fundamentals goes a long way in achieving expertise. A strong log book enhances ones understanding by displaying the interconnectedness of the chemical constituents in the water. In other words, the log helps you see how pH changes with the photic cycle, or how magnesium levels affect calcium concentrations.
Another advantage of the log book is that it gives you a place to note observations about events that you may otherwise forget. You can jot down positive and negative happenings, which can lead you to recreate the former while avoiding the latter. Let us say, hypothetically, that you observe a coral or a fish reproducing. A comprehensive log may provide clues to the conditions which led to the spawning. It could be a water change, a lighting adjustment, or a new micronutrient additive. On the other hand, sudden reproduction in corals can also be an indication of stress. The log helps to determine if what you are seeing is good or bad, and why it happened.
In creating a log book, you should first determine the parameters of which you must keep track. A fish only system, for instance, has a lesser number of critical components than a reef system. It may not be feasible, or even necessary, to check every constituent chemical in your tank water. Instead, choose those which are the most important and the most affordable to track. I suggest using the following guidelines when creating your log:
For a fish-only tank
Temperature
Salinity (Specific Gravity)
pH
Alkalinity
Phosphate
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
ORP (Redox Potential) (if possible)
For a reef tank
Temperature
Salinity (Specific Gravity)
pH
Calcium hardness
Magnesium
Alkalinity
Phosphate
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
ORP (Redox Potential) (if possible)
The log book provides a window into the inner workings of your aquariums biological system. Keeping one allows you to analyze the natural fluctuations that occur on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. It works well to keep a small notebook near your tank so that test readings and observations can be jotted down with ease. You may also choose to enter the data into an electronic spreadsheet so that the information can be graphed. A colorized line graph helps to visualize the data more succinctly, as it depicts the changing levels of various chemicals in comparison to one another. Take it from me; looking solely at the numerical statistics wont paint the entire picture for you.
Bear in mind that over-testing the tank is unnecessary and expensive. Test kits are costly, and electronic monitors will save you money in the long run, though the initial investment might be steep. I do not recommend daily testing in a stable system which is well cared-for and understood. Weekly testing will do fine once a new tanks water has stabilized. However, I always find it interesting to track the initial cycle on a semi-daily basis. I also like to test daily for the first few days after adding new livestock.
Be flexible and use your best judgment about what is appropriate. After all, no one knows your tank like you. But I am guessing that good log book will make you know that system even better.
Works Cited:
Brightwell, C.R.Marine Chemistry Neptune City: T.F.H Publications, 2007.
DelFavero, Carl.Aquarium Keeping and Rescue. Neptune City: T.F.H Publications, 2005.