Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Pond Journal

Bob and staff I recently got a copy of Raising Trophy Bass. Good stuff!

The one thing I'm learning is order to "manage" my pond I need to record a lot of info.

Do you know where I can get a Journal designed
to keep pond records. Temps,stocking info, measurements......

If not I would buy one if you would be good enough to design one.

I had no idea how much work,fun,enjoyment building and managing a pond would be.

Here's a thread that have been based on this, it has lots of different options that you can choose from.

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=000258#000000


Personally, I made mine on microsoft excel, that way i could customize it to my type of pond.


- Jighead

Thanks for the thread but these are mainly fish catch logs. I would like to track more info.

Do you keep more records on the one you made?

I would like a book to keep receipts and other info in.

When I kept a live ocean reef it was mandatory to check all the water quality parameters and keep a log. We did not have personal computers then and we made a form by drawing lines on paper, typing in the column headers and making copies of them. This is a very good idea bugfree. We learned to catch problems developing from our charts and saved our live corals from disaster many times this way. The charts made it a habit to check nitrites, nitrates, DO, oxidative redox potential, temperature, and salinity. Before we had the charts we would be remiss in doing our tests. I think this is a good idea for ponds.

PFF is 100 % correct. With all of the features that computers offer these days it would only make sense to keep it all stored there (with a hardcopy jump drive as backup). First thing to do is write down all of your goals. Then use this info to formulate a spreadsheet that fits your needs. Everyone has different goals/objectives, and everyone wants to keep up with different info. Use the suggested spreadsheet above as a starting point, then adjust it to fit your specific needs. If you have a scanner you can easily scan all of your purchases and receipts into the computer to work in conjunction with your "work in progress" spreadsheet. I would also suggest going to www.ofto.com (a free kodak site) to start up your own albums. This site allows you to group pictures into albums by date, thus allowing for an easier cross reference to your spreadsheet info. These albums can also be posted here as a link so that others can "walk through your progress" with you.
Just a thought.

Deb

Debra, I appreciate your advise. Maybe I'm old fashioned but other than this site I really don't
like being in front of a computer. I would rather sit pond side and make notes. I guess my only option is to make a log.

In that case I would invest in an accounting ledger and a notebook. Use the columns in the ledger to document your work, and use the notebook to organize any purchase receipts and photos. Do take the original time to figure out what all you want to document. This will aid in "putting titles in your columns".
Don't feel bad about not wanting to use the computer. Heck... Ken still doesn't know how to even turn a computer on (nor does he want to learn).


Good luck and keep us posted.

Deb

I use a combo method.

I have an Access Database for water temps, notes, catch records, harvest records, and relative weights. I use a variety of tools to display the data - from printed reports from Access to SQL Queries for dynamic web pages for my website.

I tried a spreadsheet - but a database is more flexible and easier to retrieve data in any number of ways. A Database is a bit more effort to set up but well worth it.

I also have a notebook that I take to the pond for taking notes. I then enter the info in the database when I return home. The database is searchable in many more ways than the notebook.

I also have a paper file for invoices, receipts, etc.

Frank

Nice website Frank...and nice records too !

Thanks Eastland

Did you see the relative weight charts?

http://www.frankpinkston.com/weather/graph/std_wt_bass2.php
http://www.frankpinkston.com/weather/graph/std_wt_bass3.php

Frank

frank,
how do you use the relative weight charts?