Minnow tank advice?

This spring I will be vacationing for a week on a lake with no bait shop, so I need to find a way to keep minnows for that time frame. I am guessing about 200 minnows (fathead or similar). Expecting air temps to be 60-70f. I will have access to 110v at the destination and have an assortment of air pumps and water pumps from when I had aquariums. I was thinking to modify a cooler.
1) do I need to run an aerator during the 2 hour trip?
2) how many gallons for that qty minnows?
3) do the air pump/stone combo introduce enough new oxygen to be able to leave the cooler closed and locked?

I would say at least 10 gal. Yes the bubbler and stones will work. For transport freeze you a couple of 2 liter bottles of water and put them in to keep water cold,slows them down. I would get a small bottle of the bait treatment from bass pro or some where and use it. Plan to change water every day or so.

Run a converter to power the 110 air pump on the trip to the cabin, something like this. Have one like this and it comes in handy a lot in the vehicle.
Power Bright PW200-12 Direct PlugIn Inverter 200 Watt

I use this ...
BETTER-BAIT™ Minnow Holding Formula

I still change the water every 2-3 days ...

Rickie

Any suggestions on gph or lpm rating for the air pump?

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Originally Posted by maker of things

This spring I will be vacationing for a week on a lake with no bait shop, so I need to find a way to keep minnows for that time frame. I am guessing about 200 minnows (fathead or similar). Expecting air temps to be 60-70f. I will have access to 110v at the destination and have an assortment of air pumps and water pumps from when I had aquariums. I was thinking to modify a cooler.
1) do I need to run an aerator during the 2 hour trip?
2) how many gallons for that qty minnows?
3) do the air pump/stone combo introduce enough new oxygen to be able to leave the cooler closed and locked?

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Think of it as an aquarium, especially if you are keeping them a week or better! The air temps are Perfect for a cooler water minnow.

Aquariums go by 1inch of fish per gallon...you overcome that by pumping in more oxygen and filtration...just because they are minnows doesn't mean the won't need food or a clean tank...you can use long small bubble diffusers during travel and cheap foam box filters, etc, while there....or partial water changes, etc, just like the aquarium...some chemicals will cause more harm, but the Minnow Holding is good. They will also eat small goldfish flakes.
You can also get a larger minnow diffuser like they use in holding tanks at bait shops that run on 110.

I run 2 cheap single output aquarium pumps from Walmart on a 100 gallon tank with 2/3 lbs of minnows with no problem. One thing I would advise is venting what ever you decide to keep them in. You were talking about sealing and locking. That's ok but you need a vent hole some where when running the air pumps so the air can circulate and let the Amonia evaporate.

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Originally Posted by cray

...you need a vent hole some where when running the air pumps so the air can circulate and let the Amonia evaporate.

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That's a good point I hadn't considered. I have an older igloo 52 quart cooler that I plan to convert. I don't need the thing air tight just so that it isn't open to slosh and have critters eat my minners.

Vent shouldn't be too problematic. I was just thinking to put holes in the lid to run the air lines through, the vent could be a nice easy "conduit" to run those through too.

I initially wanted to do the spray bar like the bait shops, but with the lid closed there would be no new oxygen. I figured the air pumps would bring new air into the cooler.

I'm excited to make this thing now. Add some ice, and a little fish food and water changes from the lake, sounds like the kind of party that I would go to. :)

I wouldn't think 200 minnows would be enough for a week (even for only one person).

If it's possible ... you could have the minnows bagged & oxygen pumped into the bag (then sealed). I've done this with 1/2lb minnows per bag, and traveled up to 4hrs without problems.

I also don't think the minnows would really need to be fed, over the weeks time period. Feeding them will require more frequent water changes or filtering the waste.

If possible, putting them in a floating minnow bucket (or two) & leaving them in the lake (after tempering the transport water to match the lake water's temp) would remove the need for aeration & feeding, once you arrive at the lake.

Just my :twocents opinion ....

... cp :kewl

2nd what crappie pappy said
bag your bait with pure oxygen no more than 1lb per bag.
keep them outta the sun and on ice.
use aerator on the ones you open that day
open a new bag only when needed and bait should be good for a week

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Originally Posted by skinny

keep them outta the sun and on ice.
use aerator on the ones you open that day
open a new bag only when needed and bait should be good for a week

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On the "on ice" comment .... DO NOT put the bagged minnows directly in contact with ice. Put a layer of cardboard between any ice & the bag. I say this because the ice "can" puncture the bag, and depending on how good your cooler is, may freeze the water in the bag .. either one of which could kill your minnows.
You might also consider putting a layer of plastic bags or something waterproof between the ice & cardboard, so that your cardboard doesn't get soggy and/or freeze.

And if you have a refrigerator at your location, you can keep the bagged minnows in it for several days w/o opening the bag. Otherwise I'd keep them (bagged) in the cooler, on top of the cardboard that's over the ice, in the coolest & safest place possible.

Just BE SURE and bring the minnow water down (or up) to the lake water temp BEFORE (if) you put them in a minnow bucket (in the lake) .... or before putting them on your hook & dropping them into the lake. A sudden drastic temp change will shock the minnows, and they won't live long ... if they even survive the change.

... cp :kewl

Lake water might not be a good idea. If you have the ability use tap water that has set out in open for at least a day, and add the minnow blue stuff. This will get rid of chlorine and have minimal bacteria that will effect minnows.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by maker of things

That's a good point I hadn't considered. I have an older igloo 52 quart cooler that I plan to convert. I don't need the thing air tight just so that it isn't open to slosh and have critters eat my minners.

Vent shouldn't be too problematic. I was just thinking to put holes in the lid to run the air lines through, the vent could be a nice easy "conduit" to run those through too.
I initially wanted to do the spray bar like the bait shops, but with the lid closed there would be no new oxygen. I figured the air pumps would bring new air into the cooler.

I'm excited to make this thing now. Add some ice, and a little fish food and water changes from the lake, sounds like the kind of party that I would go to. :)

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Do not put ice directly in the water. It will kill them. That's the reason to use the frozen bottles. It does not drop water temp drastically. I put small frozen juice bottles in my minnow buckets before I leave the house summer and winter unless it is extremely cold. Plus I agree with Pappy, no need to feed minnows for such a short period. Just makes a mess and more cleaning. I keep anywhere from 2 to 6 lbs and only feed them about every 2 wks. On your hose just make the hole large enough it can vent around the hose and it will be fine. If you have raccoons around that place you might consider puttin a ratchet strap around cooler at night to keep them from getting lid open.

I have a 48 qt cooler that I put 15 dozen minnows in which usually last me about a week. I mounted a DC pump and a 110 on the side of the cooler. The DC pump to get them from where I buy them to the lake. I then hook it to the 110 pump and shut off the DC pump. I put in enough water at the bait-shop to cover the the air-reator stone. When I get to the lake I add about 10 gallons of treated water. I change about half the water every 2 to 3 days. You can tell when you open the lid that the water needs attention. There will be a strong smell of ammonia and the water will be murky. I don't feed them , I have no vents, and I have not lost any. One more thing, when you get in from fishing, dip the minnows out of your minnow bucket. Don't pour that water, minnows and all into your holding tank. It will be dirty and contain a lot of minnow crud.

Man, did I ever come to the right place. :)

Building a cooler live well may be a worth while investment for future use............. but IMO in this case the simple thing is to grab a couple collapsable laundry hampers from dollar store zip tie a noodle around the tops, then when you get to lake let minners float in bag for a few then turn em loose in the floating live well.......

The bigger hampers work got as a fish holding station while you are there also.............