Bait Tank II (Cooling)

[Roacho]

Lots of discussions about bait tanks.  The previous threads are good.   In the previous thread we discussed water cooling using dehumidifier coils. 

Does anyone have any other water cooling techniques?

[Bob_D]

I have my tank in an insulated "box" outside. I keep the water from freezing by using a stock tank heater. The heater is thermostaticly controled (built in) and keeps the water just above freezing.

This time of year it's easier to keep the water from freezing then it is to cool it.

[Roacho]

Good point!

[fishingonly2002]

well, I got 3 dozen shinner about a week ago, and they are in a 5 gallon bucket in the basement, and they are doing just fine, all I do is change half of the water every night before bed, and give them crushed cat food. easy enough 

[Bob_D]

well, I got 3 dozen shinner about a week ago, and they are in a 5 gallon bucket in the basement, and they are doing just fine, all I do is change half of the water every night before bed, and give them crushed cat food. easy enough 

Try that with 10 POUNDS of bait or more.    I think Roucho is looking for a solution to store larger quantities of bait. 



(2) 100 gallon tanks.....I keep ~10 pound in each tank (sometimes a little more). I use the commercial areators from Cabelas and floating stock tank heaters. A little over the top for some folks, but I don't have to deal with bait shop hours. 

[2 dogs]

I go with fishingonly as have kept shiners that way for 35 years and had great sucess. I happen to feed oatmeal instead but they live quite nicely,

[Bob_D]

Foam is caused by protien breaking down. This is usually the result of rotting fish or uneaten fish food.

Sure-Life makes a product called "Foam Off" that will stop this. If you don't feed the bait and keep the dead ones out of the water, you can usually avoid the situation all together.

[MikeVT]

I have an old salad bar box that a restaurant was throwing out.  It measures 4'X6' with a built in spigot at the bottom.  We just leave it in the garage with the thermostat set at 40 degrees.  Able to keep bait for most of the winter.  Just take some water out every week and add a little bit back.  Feed them a little fish food and they are good to go.

[Roacho]

DO ANY OF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH WHITE FOAM?WHAT DO YOU DO TO GET RID OF IT?
                                                     JHM

Use a protien skimmer - inexpensive at PetCo

[killitandgrillit]

Stole from brewing beer. Get a really old fridge cheap, take out the shelves, and there ya go. Works great for cooling them indoors, for heating, just unplug the darn thing and turn on the aquarium heaters in the tank. Of course, it wont work with those huge plastic tanks pictured above, but works great with a 10 gallon aquarium. The cooling coils from a dehumidifier wouldnt work well because you cant regulate the temps.

[beerduck]

get a deep well freezer thats what i do 17 cubic footer used