Bait tank (pix!)

[daiek11]

So ive had an old 30 gallon aquarium laying around for some time. I decided that this ice season, id make good use of it. A buddy helped me move it into the garage, we set it up and let it run for a week. Yesterday we went to the bait shop and got a few dozen emeralds. What do you guys think?

[dcso3009]

Great use of something laying around.  We did that back in college on a tight budget.  Kept bait alive for a long time.  Just remember to change out the water from time to time and keep a bubbler running on them. 
Also we threw snow in 2 or 3 times a day to keep the water colder.  It seemed to help keep the little buggers alive longer.

[Spawnwalker]

Nice! Your garage must be heated.

[dkfry]

Its always good to utilize something you already have. Makes a nice setup. Looks like you have an undergravel filter in there right? I would keep the water cold so the minnows last long. I wouldn't use the heater unless it gets below freezing in the garage.

[daiek11]

Its always good to utilize something you already have. Makes a nice setup. Looks like you have an undergravel filter in there right? I would keep the water cold so the minnows last long. I wouldn't use the heater unless it gets below freezing in the garage.

The garage isnt heated, i keep the heater on low and the water stays at a fairly constant 45 degrees.

[GasBlaster]

  That looks good to me .   makes good use of thing that are just sitting around .

 I have a buddy with a setup like that in an unheated shed . He runs his heater on the lowest setting and it just keeps it above freezing on the coldest days . I has work good for him for years .

  Good job

[Buck762]

I wonder how long the baits gonna last without food

[beeverfishing]

I wonder how long the baits gonna last without food

Providing the water is cold..  they need very little if any food...

[Lone Fisher]

Providing the water is cold..  they need very little if any food...

Yeah i got a 10 gallon tank in my garage too.. and can keep a couple dozen minnows alive half the summer on no food..

 but i tried rocks and think they make the water dirty faster.. and id lke to add that you'll probably want a water filter if you dont already have one.. unless you dont mind if you cant see anything in your tank through the smog.

[Buck762]

Toss a few crappie in that tank and watch the bait go bye bye

[daiek11]

Yeah i got a 10 gallon tank in my garage too.. and can keep a couple dozen minnows alive half the summer on no food..

 but i tried rocks and think they make the water dirty faster.. and id lke to add that you'll probably want a water filter if you dont already have one.. unless you dont mind if you cant see anything in your tank through the smog.

ive got an undergravel filter. do you think thats sufficient or should i try another kind?

[Lone Fisher]

I dont know.. ive never heard of that.. if it keeps your water clean for the first month or first couple months you should be fine but if not.. look for the one that sucks the water out the pures it back out through a filter.. for now you should be fine though..

[SeaDog1]

I have 2 small gold fish ponds and made my own filter.
Water is pumped from the bottom of the pond to a small plastic tub and a difuser in the top of the tub.
Water showers down thru a blue furnace filter with a good layer of Lava rocks underneath.
Lava rocks are very porous and provide the necessary bacteria bed to keep the water healthy and clean.
Water comes out to the filter tub and gravity feeds back into the ponds.

[beeverfishing]

under gravel systems do work,  pulls water down through the gravel where the nasty stuff can break down..  But it does also use the gravel as a filter..  if you have a lot of fish you may need to clean your gravel after a cpl weeks  ..  They make gravel cleaners for this..  easy to do.

[SeaDog1]

The furnace filter catches a lot of dertritus (Dirt) and I wash it out about once a month.
As for the lava rock washed 2 maybe 3 times a year.
That's it! Water stays nice and clear.

[CrappieGuy]

I have had aquariums for years and the under gravel filter is the worst thing you can use, it sucks all the fish poop and left over food if you feed them down into the gravel.  Remove the under gravel filter and for that mater the gravel, a bare bottom is the easiest to keep clean.   

All you need is a cheap hang on filter.  You can get them for less than 20.00, I would also add an air pump and air stone.

Check Ebay for a Penguin 150.

[Seedtree]

I like to toss something in the tank to give them some "cover" and a place to get away from any currents in the tank.  Something like a coffee can with the bottom taken out.  Make sure to give it a thorough cleaning before putting it in.  This lets the minnows rest so they aren't having to swim all the time.

[Lone Fisher]

I've thought about that too because i dont know if its my filter or what but somethings making a little current in my tank and they are constantly swimming..

[dkfry]

ive got an undergravel filter. do you think thats sufficient or should i try another kind?

I don't have any experience with undergravel filters. I prefer to use a Marineland filter with the biowheel. These filters really help keep the water crystal clear. I would buy a filter slightly oversize for your tank because of all the fish in the tank, they produce a lot of waste.

[iluvcrappie]

I use the bathtub in our extra bathroom just change the water every few days and I keep my bait alive all year

[Roncarr]

I just finished my tank 260 gallons

[TaterSalad]

Sweeeet!

[smulax]

I have a 20 gal set up very similar to the one in the garage. It kept a pint of mummies alive for the whole season last year.   I will put up a pic if I can figure out how to work the camera. 

[miket.]

i have a fifty five gallon jammy in the basement. i actually have minnows from last years ice season swimming around.

[REEL DeiL]

i wish we could do that in ny but we have a 2 week limit on our bait after that we have to throw it away and start over

[minnowdrowner]

How do they know how old bait is? 

[REEL DeiL]

you have to keep a receipt on you at all times if they check you and you dont have it they will dump your bait and give you a ticket if you have the receipt and it is over the 2 weeks same thing dumped bait and a huge fine. 

[DennyB]

i wish we could do that in ny but we have a 2 week limit on our bait after that we have to throw it away and start over

Whats the purpose of that?

[minnowdrowner]

you have to keep a receipt on you at all times if they check you and you dont have it they will dump your bait and give you a ticket if you have the receipt and it is over the 2 weeks same thing dumped bait and a huge fine.

That doesn't make any sense at all , I guess it is NY though

[REEL DeiL]

it is to try and stop the baitfish disease cr^p