Keeping shiners alive?

[Matt R.]

Gentlemen, I am new to keeping minnows.

My set up consists of 2 stock tanks: 1-125gal plastic 1-65 gal galvanized.
I have good filtration, circulation and air.
In my 125 I keep my bigger suckers, dace,chubs 4"-8" and they are doing fine. no losses in 3 weeks. (about 100 cnt) probably allot more....

In the 65 gal galvanized tank I have around 400 shiners.( 2"-4"). But they are slowly dying off, about 8 a day.
Is this normal? Or what could I do to keep the better?
P.S. both in garage, cold water.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

M.

[1MOFISH]

its the galvanizing thats killing them.galvanitic reaction to the water is leeching out the chemicals into the water,my opinion seeing that the other tank is doing well. bait is dellicate sorry for your loss
GOD bless
mo

[Matt R.]

That's what i was afraid of.
I'll probably move them all into the big tank.

Thanks man.

[1MOFISH]

if you move them i'd net them out and treat with baitsaver and get them extra air sounds like an operation  well it is you need to save the patients youll probally lose a few more hope you get ice soon to use up the wounded
GOD bless
mo

[DasRottweiler]

Paint the interior of the galvy tank with pool paint for next season. Try to keep temps around freezing, shiners are sensitive and will be the first to start dieing if you have a water quality issue. Chubs, suckers etc are much more rugged and will tolerate more in terms of water quality and temp ranges. Swap out 1/3 of the shiner water at least once a week if the tank is crowded. Use lake water or well water or treat your tap water with BetterBait or FinerSHiner.

[jopes]

Matt, I am using a big ole chest freezer which no longer works.  it was free to me.  I think in the last 2 weeks or so I have lost one minnow, I had lost more because I had taken the small screen off the pond pump and it was catching the ones which went by it and chewing them up. 

[fishermanna82]

i would say keep the dead ones and use there heads.