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I know several of you out there have your own minnow tanks and I am at the point that I am adding one due to trouble getting minnows when I want them. I am starting with a 30 gallon blue barrel and wanted to know what you feel will be the max number of minnows (lbs) that I can safely keep in there for an extended period of time. I know conditions and other factors will play a part but just in terms of the number of lbs it will sufficiently hold, what are your suggestions? Thanks,
Google up Anderson Minnow Farm. They have a chart that says what you want to know. They have in listed for different water temps.
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Originally Posted by jigflinger
Thanks jigflinger I for one was glad to see you post the name of the minnor farm. I have an old stock water tank that I have been planning to use for a minnow tank and had also been curious about the number it would hold.
Thanks....I will check that out.Quote:
Originally Posted by jigflinger
Just got off the phone with a fish farm about 25 miles from me and I can get Tuffy's for $4 per lb!! Sure beats paying $1.50-2 a dozen or driving out there only to find them closed!!
Tuffy's? Never seen them listed a that. Got a link to that farm? $4 per pound may be little ones.
The farm I called does not have a website. Its $4 per lb regardless of the size.....just less fish per lb if you get the medium as opposed to the small. I did find this site (Harry Saul Minnow Farm - forage fish minnows, grow trophy bass, fathead minnows) that list "black tuffies" and under it says its the same as fathead? I said fathead when I called and he said "do you mean tuffies"? So I guess it just depends on who you are talking to!!:donoQuote:
Originally Posted by canebreaker
Ok, the tuffies were the only bait I could find around Nashville at regular price. Golden shiners were $4 more for 5 dozen. I couldn't find a crappie with a tuffy on 3 lakes.
Tuffies is another name for fatheads. I use rosie reds for crappie. Rosies are a orange color phase of a fathead and because of its bright color it sticks out like a sore thumb in the water.
Well, got 2 lbs of fatheads added to the tank and thinking that may be a bit much for the 30 gallon tank....time will tell on how long they keep but that thing sure looks full!!! My next question is what do you all use to condition the water and is there anything out there that doesn't make the minners so dang slick!!??? I used the yellow bottle stuff from Wally World. Went fishing yesterday and couldn't hardly hold on to them because they were so slick. I know the bait shops must use something different because they don't seem to be that way. Any advise on what you use or if you have run into that problem before? Thanks,
Really depends on temperature as well as oxygen level. Clean aerated water is a must. The other thing to consider is feeding the minnows and keeping the water clean. I keep minnows in an 80 gallon aquarium with a power filter system and run a DE filter every couple days. My water stays 55 - 65 degrees. I buy 5# of minnows at a time, replensih when they get time consuming to net, Conservatively. I would guess I keep 3-7 thousand minnows year round.
As far as being too slick, the slime coating is needed to maintain optimal health. However, the chemicals you added may have been done to an extreme. I do not use chemicals as I am using well water that is filtered through a charcoal filter before adding to my tank. I do add 1 teaspoon of sea salt for every 10 gallons of water added.
Keeping water clean and fresh is the hardest part. changing 15 - 20 percent of the water weekly helps to remove toxins from waste decomposition. The nice filter system helps a whole lot but the gravel bed needs weekly maintenance simply siphon out all the waste and add fresh water. After several times you get very efficient and water additions are simple.
I use a 100 gallon Rubbermaid watering trough. I keep 5-6 lbs easily if I change 75% of the water every week when it's cool out, or every 3-4 days in warmer weather. Might hold a few more lbs with regular water changes. I don't use chemicals, I use an RV filter from walmart to put water in the tank. I also took a 1" hole saw and drilled holes along the bottom of a battery box and hollow fill from a cheap pillow for a filter. I actually use an aerator pump in a hole I drilled near the bottom of the tank and ran a hose from that into the battery box. I bought a 120v to 12v cell phone charger from the truck stop to run the aerator pump. I also use a double pump for an aquarium and two big air stones and lines for oxygen.
I have a 55 gal minnow tank I just built in garage to use with well water, with filter attached to the bilge that pumps for oxygenation. Can you recommend a thermometer? Also, is anyone keeping the water cool by any other means beside more water on regular basis? Ice at lake I know,but it would be nice if we had a way to keep it cool when warm out!
Thanks!
Gonz
How come no body is adding pictures?
Let's see if this works. Here's one of mine.Attachment 192486
I use the floating type in my 55 gal. drum.
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Just a quick update on how my first batch went. Finally had a complete die off from the 2lbs I bought. They lasted about a month and a half. Seems like a short time to me? This tank is in a basement and the weather has been very cold here during the time I had them. I probably changed out 75% of the water 3 times during that period. Had a few die here and there for a while and then that last week they were pretty much all gone water had a lot of bubbles on top and there were "clumps" of dead minnows that were caught around the filter intake. I am running one dual air stone that seems to be putting off quite a few bubbles and I have one of the large 40-60 gallon aquarium filters from Wally World. Will try to get a picture of my setup but wondering if there is something I need to do different to keep them alive longer?
http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/a...pschr2y97w.jpg
Took a useless space that housed my sump pump. My house does not have basement. Laid down rubber flooring as room is damp most of time. Painted walls and added lighting all plastic fixtures to eliminate rust problems. Note filter in front of tank. Filter will greatly add to longevity of your minnows. Two biggest enemies of trying to keep minnows heat and ammonia. The filter helps to remove ammonia and bring beneath ground level helps on temperature. Cooler the water the more oxygen it can retain. Even with Ohio's extreme cold this winter the little room never fell below 52 F. With no heat being introduced.
Just started this fall so I can't report how they will do over the summer. I think the room will stay cool enough but can't say for sure. If it can maintain water temp around 70 F and below it should be ok. Tank is about 45 gallon and I kept between 1 and 2 pounds all winter. Minnows also must be fed if kept much more than a week. Purina makes a minnow chow but I use ground dry dog food. Overfeeding causes ammonia problems so feed on the caution side.
Filter set up ran me less than 70.00. Price was low compared to other filters but has worked fine all winter. Also added a little tying shelf so I can work on my custom jigs and pin min lures. Better than freezing in my unheated garage.
Forgot to add the filter cuts down greatly on water changes. Internet full of helpful advice.
Good looking set-up, hays47. At 70 degrees you should be able to keep at least 5#. At 65 degrees you should be able to hold 10# with ease.
Don't change the water to often. Filter if possible. Most people kill their minnow s changing their water to often. JMO.
I agree completely about minnows dying during water change cycles. I believe that this is due to temperature difference, not the water change itself. Minnows are very temperature sensitive. As little as 4 degrees difference will shock the little rascals and cause them to give up the ghost. Filter will help a lot by keeping the same water. The 5 gallon bucket filter in my pic has been filtering the same water for over 2 months and keeps the water crystal clear. When I do change the water I temper them. I pull the water level down a few inches the start the water into the tank to get the temp equalized. Then I can open the drain and take about 2 inches off the bottom . Close valve and fill it up.
Where did you get the filter from. I like that setup.
Made the filter using a five gallon bucket.
Never really tried to keep minnows but have kept a lot of tropical fish. As I understand this mass die off, it can be disease or more likely nitrogen waste build up which occurs by lack of water change as well adding water to make up for evaporation. This is one reason activated charcoal is used in filters. The easiest way to address this is to replace 10% of the water once or twice weekly. This amount does not require water treatment or chlorine removal. It will also be helpful to remove the water from the bottom to get as much solid waste as possible. Aquariums will use a gravel filter to eliminate waste much like what happens in nature. The bacteria in the rock breaks down the waste.