My bait tank

[Scott K]

I have been fighting with my bait tank for a few years now, and it so seems I have it figured out. I had problems with my city water killing them, and the water just getting bad after a couple weeks, and couldnt just do a quick water change, as adding the city water would kill them.

So the first thing I did was installed some rain gutters to drain right into my tank. Then i added a drain a few inches from the top of the tank, and run the hose away, and to an area it wont puddle, and get muddy. I had a double stone air bubbler, that has a built in battery so if the power goes out, it will keep pumping oxygen into the tank. I have been experimenting with a filter system the last couple years as well. Last year I just used a pool pump, with the filter, it did a poor job, but it did something, and I would need to clean it every couple days.

This year, after reading up on LFC's bait tank, I decided to try a miniature bio filter, and just use a pool pump to pump the water into the filter. It worked great, it kept the water nice and clean, and it kept the smell down as well. I just had a problem with burning out the pool pumps. After being in need of a filter/pump soon, as my tank was getting very dirty in just a couple days. I found a pond pump sitting in the wives pond/fountain that she hopefully dont notice missing, and that works great. It is a submersible pump, and has an adjustable flow knob. The best part is you dont need to bleed it, just toss it in the tank, and plug it in.

The home made filter I made from a 5 gallon bucket with a lid. I drilled a bunch of 1/4" holes all around the bucket about 3 inches from the bottom of the bucket. I used cut up pop bottles and put them in the bottom of the bucket. I then took a couple furnace filters and cut the filter out of them and layed them down inside of the bucket. I cut a hole in the side of the bucket to run the hose into, then just put the lid on it and plugged in the pump. The water just pours on the top of the filters, and the filters take out some of the stuff, then any bigger stuff just falls to the bottom of the bucket. I am not sure, but I think there is bacteria growing in it as well.

I made a little box for the power supply, and to keep the bubbler dry. I have kept about 60 bullheads alive for a couple weeks, and as long as the pump is running the water stays clear. When the pumps have burnt out on me, in 2 days the water gets smelly and dirty, so I know it works.

Thanks Larry for some of the tips on how to set up a bio filter. I am really not sure if it is one, but it seems to work, and that is all the really matters to me. I havent even had to treat the water at all this year. I guess it helps a lot that it gets a flush, every time it rains as well.

I forgot to take pictures of the inside of the bucket, but it was raining, or I was fishing all weekend. So I will try to get a few more tomorrow.

[Larry FlatCaster]

That looks like a great set up Scott!

The only way you can be sure if your tank is cycled is buying a test kit.

Most important thing is that your keeping the water clear, and when you clean your filters don't use chlorinated water.... use your tank water in a bucket, then put in the garden.

I'm guessing that you have got yours cycling if your able to maintain your tank with out doing water changes on a frequent basis.

You don't need a huge bio filter if your not keeping large quantities of bait.

The one thing I will question you on... and tip my hat too is a battery back up bubbler.... I need to look into that... If I loose power... YIKES...

I'll take a name of what your using, I need to look into that.... after a fire call a couple miles away with transformers blowing out in the city and everyone loosing power... The first thing I checked when I got home was my tank.

One last note. Are you monitoring temps with that pump? If its a heat generator you know what can happen...

[Scott K]

I will get a close up of the bubbler in the morning, with the name brand. I have no idea where I got it from. I havent monitored the temps yet, but when it gets hot outside, I throw in a couple 2 liter bottles of ice in it every day. That seemed to do the trick last year. I never thought of the extra heat that the pump will produce. I will monitor it close when we start getting warmer out.

[Larry FlatCaster]

Inexpensive pool thermometers work pretty good. Walmart has them pretty cheap.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I run a pond pump in mine. It does generate a bit of heat, but not too much. Mine's in the basement and it normallys sits in the upper 60s (a few degrees warmer than ambient).

Nice set up. My filter is very similar.

[Scott K]

Larry, here is a close up of my bubbler. If you need a model # or anything, let me know.

[Gordie]

Scott you shoulda never let me know where you lived.BTW if you here a bump in the night its just me looking for bait

[Scott K]

If I have extra and your in need , I have no prolem with that, although you may want to call first, as I might think it is a coon trying to steel my bullheads, and I will go out there with the 30-06

That and I am pretty sure if you go bump, my coon dogs will be a howling. They like when I walk back there at night, they think they get to go hunting. I am sure my neighbors love me when I come home at 2 am and put the bait back into the tank, and the coon dogs howl for 20 minutes

[Borch]

Inexpensive pool thermometers work pretty good. Walmart has them pretty cheap.

That's what I've been using in my freezer/baittank to monitor the temps. Think I spent 4 or 5 bucks on it. I have the freezer hooked up on a timer. Keeps the water between 55-62 degree way it's set up now. Without the thermometer I'd just be guessing.

[Larry FlatCaster]

That's what I've been using in my freezer/baittank to monitor the temps. Think I spent 4 or 5 bucks on it. I have the freezer hooked up on a timer. Keeps the water between 55-62 degree way it's set up now. Without the thermometer I'd just be guessing.

Geez Borch.... You got those things wearing Long Johns... That's some cool water for this time of year.... I bet they hit that 70deg river water and go NUTZ after being kept in Cryostasis.... Brrrr.

I'd like to see the expression on someones face... if for any reason they had to reach down to the bottom of the tank.

[Borch]

They seem to be doing just fine at that temp. Haven't lost one or had issues with since I plugged it in and settled in there. I'm shooting for 60-65 degrees but depending on the outside temps it varies a bit as I'm running it off a timer rather than a thermometer probe.

[aanderud]

Borch, I love the fact that you have a freezer that actually refrigerates. That's great. I have mine in my basement, which probably runs about mid-60s when my main floor is in the low 70s. So, I guess I don't need refrigeration necessarily. However, a filter wouldn't be a bad idea. I should upgrade at a minimum to one of those large aquarium filters, if not something like 4WE has or a smaller version of what WWG and LFC did.

[rushing]

I think the colder you can keep the water the cleaner and more healthy the bullies will be since their metabolism slows down, you have them breathing less and fouling the tank less. Plus the cooler the water the more oxygen the water can hold.

IO have the making for a smaller bait tank but I have been having luck with just 5 gal buckets.

[Larry FlatCaster]

I agree on the colder water... my freezer can't keep up with the quantity of water I use.

[Borch]

Scott,

That tank looks like it can hold a pile of bait. That's a massive filter system but then again you have a pretty big tank. Is that a screen over the top of your tank?

[DTro]

I've seen a huge improvement in my tank this year by limiting the amount of fish in there. It's about 50 gallons and 130 is the most I've had in there this year. Mostly been hovering around 80-90. I've only lost 2 all year long. Simple dual bubbler and aquaclear. Basement temps help a lot too I'm sure.

[Scott K]

Borch, ya since it is under my deck, and I have a silver maple tree over hanging my deck, I needed to cover it, to keep out the helicopters. I also have the rain gutter draining into it, and needed to filter it. The tank is about 6 feet long, and 2.5 feet wide, 2.5 feet deep, approx 100 gallons or so. Last year I have kept about the max legal amount in there, but like Dtro, I have been keeping less in there, but more so that I havent been fishing much, and I havent had those nights where I go through 2-3 dozen yet this year. If I do start getting those nights, I will stock 120 or so. As of right now, I think I only have 2-3 dozen in there, but I just need to get out and restock it, but free time has been hard to come by so far this year.

[StillwaterAaron]

The tank is about 6 feet long, and 2.5 feet wide, 2.5 feet deep, approx 100 gallons or so.

Quick Calculation is closer to 280 Gallons. That is a little bigger than mine and those extra gallons really help keep the fish healthy. My biggest problem this year has been raccoons eating my bullheads.

[Borch]

Borch, ya since it is under my deck, and I have a silver maple tree over hanging my deck, I needed to cover it, to keep out the helicopters. I also have the rain gutter draining into it, and needed to filter it. The tank is about 6 feet long, and 2.5 feet wide, 2.5 feet deep, approx 100 gallons or so. Last year I have kept about the max legal amount in there, but like Dtro, I have been keeping less in there, but more so that I havent been fishing much, and I havent had those nights where I go through 2-3 dozen yet this year. If I do start getting those nights, I will stock 120 or so. As of right now, I think I only have 2-3 dozen in there, but I just need to get out and restock it, but free time has been hard to come by so far this year.

Ah that makes sense. I thought maybe it was to keep the critters like racoons and Gordy from getting your bullies.

[Scott K]

Ya your right about the gallons, it is more then 100, lol.

The screen may work to help keep out the coon, but those Gordie critters are just to smart for a screen

[ec30_06]

Ya your right about the gallons, it is more then 100, lol.

The screen may work to help keep out the coon, but those Gordie critters are just to smart for a screen

Try a bear trap

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

I could make up a batch of gordie repellent. 100% satisfaction guarantee

[Gordie]

I could make up a batch of gordie repellent. 100% satisfaction guarantee

but that would mean you would have to kill those bullies and let them sit in your car in the HOT sun for a day or two again...

and I'm smarter than your average bear boo boo