Pump for Bait tank

[Smokum870]

hey guys, just getting my tank set up for the year and had a question on what pump to use.
 
heres my set up:
150 gallon stock tank
5 gallon bucket gravity filter
3 aerator pumps/stones

I have a little giant 2e-nys pump right now that i plan on using or i also have a sump pump.  the little giant is 255gph for the height im going to have the filter at and the sump is around 1100.  going to put a cage around regardless to eliminate any chum slick. 

the little giant is the same pump you would see on a parts cleaner with the brush.

thanks for the help guys!

[Mac Attack]

If you are going to pump up into the 5 gallon bucket with the pump and allow the water to flow over biological media, like bioballs, that pump is plenty.
Be sure to put something up top to spread out the water so it drips all over the top of the media and doesn't channel down through a single hole in the media.
You want to maximize the exposure of the water to the media.
Also, use a fiber filter mat or something to pre-filter the water before it goes into the bucket and the media.
Or the media will simply clog up and become useless.

Good luck.
Mac

[NorthernFishFinder]

I run almost the identical set up (130 gallons tank, 275gph pump) and pump the water about 3 feet up to the top of the tank and have never had issues.  The 5 gallon filter is where the "trouble" starts.  Took me awhile to get the plumming just right, but it does create a nice, $$ friendly filter that's easy to access.

PM me if you need details, happy to help.

[Dags Bait Maine]

With a good filter and low water temps, 225gph cycle on a 150gal system should support between 4-5 gallons of bait.

-Dylan

[Smokum870]

thanks guys. one question tho. what do you mean by fiber filter mat? i have a 2x3 foot sheet of hvac blue filter material that i planned on using. do you suggest like a home water filter with the changeable cartridges like you would see on a water softening system?

[Mac Attack]

thanks guys. one question tho. what do you mean by fiber filter mat? i have a 2x3 foot sheet of hvac blue filter material that i planned on using. do you suggest like a home water filter with the changeable cartridges like you would see on a water softening system?

 

The blue stuff will work fine for a pre-filter.

[jacksmelt71]

i put loose poly from mardens on top of a piece of coarse floor buffer pad set on top of 4in.of  1/2in. river gravel that drains over bio balls back into the tank 60 gal. tank . a 2 1/2 gal. bucket w/ holes drilled in it, placed inside the 5 gal. bucket, helps keep the media orderly and separated. easier to clean also. i replace the lose poly 1x a week. more often if the waters real dirty. i think I'm running a 250gph pump in there.

[fish shepherd]

Bio filters will not work in temps less than 60 degrees. If you want to get rid of your ammonia I would consider zeolite.

[Mac Attack]

Bio filters will not work in temps less than 60 degrees. If you want to get rid of your ammonia I would consider zeolite.

Not entirely true.
The bacteria's metabolism, like the fish's, slows down as the water gets colder, but doesn't really die until you get the water close to freezing.
If you are using a water chiller, or some other means to lower the water temp, the fish's metabolism also decreases.
So the fish excrete less ammonia anyway.

Now, if you are chilling the water WAY down, close to freezing, forget bio filters.
Not worth the effort.

Zeolite works, but you really need a lot more water flow through it to be effective.

[jacksmelt71]

i have a pond heater in mine. turns on at 35f, off at 45f. never had ammonia die off.

[Bear207]

Do you resupply with your own caught bait or stock up with a local baitshop purchase?

[Smokum870]

A mix of both Bear.  Also use better bait or finer shiner.  try to trap a few dace for the first of the year and then keep any leftover jumbos i buy for pike, clover traps are next years ptoject so i can get the big one that i know are in my bait pond