Outdoor Bait Tank?

[Forest]

Looking to build a Bait Tank outside with little to no power source.
Geothermal heating?
I am also lakefront front so maybe put it in the lake or circulate water from it? Still has the freezing issues...

[gola yona]

55 gallon barrel works good or chest freezer painted black. Keeping it on the south side maybe for most sunlight.

[Forest]

I tried that last year with a heater and it still froze solid.

[rdhammah]

I tried that last year with a heater and it still froze solid.

And last year was a mild winter

[hays47]

I kinda lucked out on this issue. The previous owner of my house built an underground fruit cellar. With no heat it never gets colder than low 50's. It the summer it never get above high sixties. The only thing I had to do was install bait tank. I also added some electrical outlets.

Keep waxworms , raise european nightcrawlers and try to keep minnow tank stocked with 6-20 dozen minnows.



Also added a little bench for tying jigs . If any of you have an unused underground structure you can do something similar. I no longer have to wait for bait shops to open. If I need to restock minners or waxworms I usually buy on way home. The european nightcrawlers have been able to sustain what I use by breeding so far. Since this picture was taken I have added a bigger tank for keeping larger number of minnows.

[Forest]

What kind of filter is that? Do you use an airator too?

[jopes]

I use a 22 cf chest freezer.  about 12-15" of water.  A aerator to supply fresh air from out side and a pond pump pumping water into a 5 gallon bucket made filter.  I used pillow filling, 4 lbs aquarium charcoal than another layer of pillow filling.  Drilled 1/4" holes around the bottom.  I put a padlock on the lid so kids don't just fall into the thing. 

I have yet to have this freeze, even when it drops to -25 or so below zero and it is kept outside all winter long. 

[Papa Sly]

Forest I kept mine outside last year using a big cooler with a small aquarium heater on a timer and an aerator but no filter. I changed out half the water 2x weekly and adjusted the timer from 1 hour every 4 to 1 hour every 2 depending how cold it was outside. It was a basic light timer from home depot. I also had a thermometer in the cooler and kept the water between 33 and 36 so no shock when using them or changing the water out
. I never fed them and I lost very few but I also live on a lake so it was easy to change out the water.

[Fedexguy]

What would you suggest feeding them if it was necessary? Pet store flakes?

[UFCreel]

Don't fed them. They can go a very long time without food. Have worked in a bait shop. We never fed the bait.

[DR.SPECKLER]

if you live lake front find a junk clothes washer that has a stainless drum in it. take it out and put it in the lake maybe put in a bubbler to keep it from freezing.ive been selling these drums to guys that live on lakes for  livewells for fish and bait.they are nice and big with little holes already in them and stainless wont rust away.ive got one in my pond that I keep my catfish bait in and the fish will last forever without water changes and food gets in the drum naturally  too.i didn't use a top on mine but when its really sunny out it reflects off the stainless steel and stresses the fish a little but i installed a top and it works great.

[Forest]

if you live lake front find a junk clothes washer that has a stainless drum in it. take it out and put it in the lake maybe put in a bubbler to keep it from freezing.ive been selling these drums to guys that live on lakes for  livewells for fish and bait.they are nice and big with little holes already in them and stainless wont rust away.ive got one in my pond that I keep my catfish bait in and the fish will last forever without water changes and food gets in the drum naturally  too.i didn't use a top on mine but when its really sunny out it reflects off the stainless steel and stresses the fish a little but i installed a top and it works great.

A bubbler and a black lid to keep the herons out. Maybe I'll try it.