I'm curious if anyone has tried this, if I take a regular fish aquarium (say 10 gallonsish) and use fresh water and a regular aquarium pump ariator can i keep minnows alive for any length of time?
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I'm curious if anyone has tried this, if I take a regular fish aquarium (say 10 gallonsish) and use fresh water and a regular aquarium pump ariator can i keep minnows alive for any length of time?
There is a whole section of the forum related to live bait, could probably find your answer there.
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I'm in that section also, looking for some local input if possible
I thought about it! After reading a lot about it..... NO WAY!!!
Any particular reason not?
It can be done but it is labor intensive. Water has to be changed almost every day or at least ran though a running type filter or they will die off pretty quick. Cheaper to just buy minnows as you need them.
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I'm interested in doing it because where I live and like to fish it would be real nice to just dip out a few and go, I've kept about 3 dozen alive in a insulated bucket with an aerator for about 2 weeks
I have several buddies that have made holding tanks out of large trash cans or stock water tanks. Like Hogster said, they recirculate the water through an RV water filter. It works very well until the weather gets hot. It's very difficult to keep them alive for long periods of time in hot weather.
I use an old Coleman cooler in a wood box on the north side of the house with a stone bubbler, I just use it to hold leftovers or get minners the day before, bait shop don't open early enough. Got 3 dozen in there now, been in there 2 weeks and pulled 2 dead ones this morn. Hot weather is a different story, cut the time in half or more. It's easy to change water in it and clean. Always used Better Bait with good luck.
Thanks guys for the info... I'm not looking to start my own bare shop but it would be great to only but minnows once a month or so
One trick is to change 10-15 percent of the water every 2-3 days. In that amount you can just use tap water. Chlorine is not a problem for that much. This will keep the ammonia levels at acceptable levels.
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How big of a deal is lime?
I have used Better Bait and it does work well. You can tell the minnows and more slippery.
Stop at Wally World and get the bottle of stuff they use in the fish tanks that allows tap water use... a few drops in a clean gallon milk jug, fill with water the day prior, put lid on a shake, then add the next day as you switch out water. an air stone is near a must! as it will help with the process.
Watch Creig's List and pick up a 20 gal aquarium cheap... nothing but the fish and water and air stone will carry you quite awhile. Set up in basement and you can beat the heat and cold! 20 gal. tank with what they call, "under gravel filter" will carry 3 doz easy with near for ever. Those are easy to wash down and flush, between batches of bate, if you have it near a floor drain... drain water and flush the rocks good... maybe 20 minute job!
Wow u make it sound effortless lol thank u!