Homemade Bait tank?

Rotter · #1 04-09-2018, 11:36 PM

Deciding to make a homemade bait tank instead of using a bucket where i have to keep changing the water, or the metal cage type where the herring get beat up when a boat or a barge goes by. Also they dont have much room to move, then I have to tie them to something so they dont float away. So really my question is what is a good size aerator that would be sufficient for a container that prob holds 30 gallons and 10-20 herring. I've seen the I believe they are calles mister bubbles in Wal-Mart but didn't think that would put enough o2 in the water. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. TY

Rotter · #2 04-09-2018, 11:40 PM

Looking at a 12v dc Seaflo

grampy06 · #3 04-10-2018, 09:42 AM

I use a (Keep Alive) aerator,they are awesome!

Kirch · #4 04-10-2018, 10:15 AM

I made one out of an old cooler and a bassperator livewell kit. Cut the bottom of a 5gallon pail off and set it in the cooler. Round baitwell works best so I used what I had. I tossed the pump in the river and flooded the cooler until it ran out of the drain hose. Ran the pump every half hour or so. Worked well. Water temp stayed consistent with the river temp. Dissolved O2 had to equal what the river water was. I fish out of a small boat so 240# of water for a 30 gallon livewell wasn't an option. Cycling 6 gallons was my best option.

burgerman86 · #5 04-10-2018, 10:47 AM

100 quart cooler fish saver 360gph aerator 12v lead rechargable battery about $80 to make all brand new stuff good for 15-20 herring will run for 8-10 hours on full charge light and closes so no mess transport

BUB · #6 04-10-2018, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grampy06

I use a (Keep Alive) aerator,they are awesome!

This is the way to go. I bought one a few years back. Wish I had done it sooner. As far as the tank itself, make sure it's round with nothing for the herring to bash into.

plasmud · #7 04-10-2018, 07:13 PM

check out this video from Kingston area "Ziffy"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPODSlOrOmg

gunner1 · #8 04-10-2018, 08:06 PM

The keep alives are good. Just buy the extra large filter for it.

Rotter · #9 04-12-2018, 09:17 AM

Thanks guys I am going with the ka500 I think that is sufficient. Order on its way.

BUB · #10 04-12-2018, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rotter

Thanks guys I am going with the ka500 I think that is sufficient. Order on its way.

Nice. Like Gunner said, make sure you get the big filter.

gunner1 · #11 04-12-2018, 08:15 PM

[QUOTE=Rotter;273001]Thanks guys I am going with the ka500 I think that is sufficient. Order on its way.[/QUOTE

The nice thing with the 500 is that the pump will run for more than 24 hours straight on a fully charged group 27 sized battery.

inumbskul · #12 04-20-2018, 08:57 PM

I used a 20 gallon Rubber Maid container from [email protected] $18 I think.... round, 2 big handles and snap on lid. I ran the line that fills my live well into it with an overflow hose over the side. I don't use an bubbler because I'm running fresh river water through the tank all the time.
I fish rivers below KY and Barkley dams for striper and this was cheap and works great.