Question-Minnows Dieing

[Boatbottom]

Have a new engels bait cooler. I have tried to keep minnow ovr night in it three times. First time all minnows died in less than 24 hrs. Thought maybe it was diseased minnows. Used it again and most died again in less than a day. Washed it out good with soap and water, rinsed and let dry for several days. Used again and same result. I'm using an aquarium aerator and frozen water bottle to keep cool. Have kept the bait box sealed while minnows were n it. Is there something that will disinfect this thing? Will try changing the tube and stone. Any help appreciated. Thanks

[Speck]

You probably need to keep them in a larger cooler or container. It sounds like you are doing everything else right, however, the minnows will produce ammonia as they urinate in the water. The hotter the weather, the more active the minnows thus the more ammonia they produce. A larger container will dilute the ammonia for a longer period of time but eventually the water will have to be changed as well.

[wilbur]

That's good info Speck, I never knew that. Someone told me not to use tap water it has chloride in it , Is this true?

[Boatbottom]

My cooler is the 19 qt. I had about 50 minnows in it each time and the original tank water since I had them for less than a day.

[Rees Guide]

What size Engel is it, haven't fooled with any in a couple of months but if its one of the smaller ones you can hang it up. Got to use some water treatment too if using tap water. I don't normally get my water from the bait shop either, try to have mine fixed before I get there.

[Boatbottom]

It's the 19 qt Rees, but only had about 50 minnows in it.

[stormcloud]

I use a 48 qt cooler with a 110 volt aerator that I use at the camp. I put 15 dozen minnows in it and never have any trouble. Sometimes I have 2 or 3 dozen left over after 4 or 5 days. I use tap water with a granular chemical I add to it to take the chlorine out. Got it at BPS. I make up the water in the cooler and pour the minnows I got from the bait shop, water and all, into the cooler. After a couple of days, if the water is getting cloudy, or I can smell ammonia, I change about half the water out.

[Boatbottom]

Thanks to all. Looks like what's left is to fix my own water and make sure it doesn't get cloudy. It definitely was cloudy before.

[hotrod1]

I got well water. 1 pound per 48 quart. Change water daily. Keep in shade. When I take em to lake I give em fresh water. I use a 5 gallon bucket with a foam insert. If they start croaking those are going on the hook first.

[Cray]

You might also try un latching the lid and put something small under the lid to let it vent a little better. Pumping all that air in with larger air pump seems to create more of a gas from the ammonia when sealed up. Maybe venting will let more of it escape with a larger vent area. Keep water cool with those frozen bottles, that helps keeping them less active.