Anybody ever use a above ground swiming pool for a minnow pond?

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10-29-2019, 01:30 AM
1187mg

Anybody ever use a above ground swiming pool for a minnow pond?

I would like to. I have access to one that wasn't used this year and I hope it will work.
10-29-2019, 03:38 AM
DockShootinJack

You could keep a ton of them in there
10-29-2019, 04:15 AM
SuperDave336

What a cool swimming aquarium! I'm guessing couple thousand depending on size of pool....:Rofl Then you will have to cast net them out.
10-29-2019, 04:52 AM
DockShootinJack

Probably a net over top or you would be feeding the birds and the raccoons
10-29-2019, 02:13 PM
DockShootinJack

Start your own minnow farm
10-29-2019, 06:54 PM
1187mg

I am going to try to start raising them. Wonder if I would need to aerate them in the summer?

Thanks everybody for the replies.
10-29-2019, 07:00 PM
Cray

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1187mg

I am going to try to start raising them. Wonder if I would need to aerate them in the summer?

Thanks everybody for the replies.

I would think you would want something to circulate the water at least. Aerate and a spray bar set up to help cool the water. Or some type of cover to keep the sun off.
10-29-2019, 07:26 PM
DockShootinJack

I could keep fat head minnows in a stock tank in the garage from fall to the beginning of summer. The heat of summer would always kill them off
11-01-2019, 12:11 PM
scout-j-m

Quote:

Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

I could keep fat head minnows in a stock tank in the garage from fall to the beginning of summer. The heat of summer would always kill them off

We have a well at our house we use to irrigate some raised beds and our shrubs in the hot months. Next summer I'm going to rig up a tank with some type of automatic fill valve from the well so I can periodically pump in cold water to hopefully help them survive. Be nice to rig it up to a thermal switch vs a timer. Only potential issue is I'm not sure if the water will be ok...I have not tested it to see if it has anything in it that would be harmful to fish or animals. I'm sure its fine but you never know.
11-01-2019, 12:59 PM
DockShootinJack

It's ground water. Unless there is a source of contamination it should be fime for your purposes. More than likely it has a lot less chemicals than Municipal water supplies
11-01-2019, 01:19 PM
jigflinger

Quote:

Originally Posted by scout-j-m

We have a well at our house we use to irrigate some raised beds and our shrubs in the hot months. Next summer I'm going to rig up a tank with some type of automatic fill valve from the well so I can periodically pump in cold water to hopefully help them survive. Be nice to rig it up to a thermal switch vs a timer. Only potential issue is I'm not sure if the water will be ok...I have not tested it to see if it has anything in it that would be harmful to fish or animals. I'm sure its fine but you never know.

Well water will probably be fine. Well water around here comes out at 52 degrees. Only problem is that well water typically has zero oxygen. Give it plenty of aeration. Good luck.
11-01-2019, 01:23 PM
RobAnderson

The water will be a constant 72 degrees depending on the depth of the well and where you live. From experience, it's best to keep them arriated and the water around the mid 70's. I keep them for about 6 months in the summer when my supplier cuts his orders down.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
11-01-2019, 04:08 PM
scout-j-m

Quote:

Originally Posted by jigflinger

Well water will probably be fine. Well water around here comes out at 52 degrees. Only problem is that well water typically has zero oxygen. Give it plenty of aeration. Good luck.

I think our temp is around the same. I checked it this past summer but dont remember what exactly it was. I'm not sure on the depth either. Of course I would set up a nice filtration system paired with an aerator so I'd think oxygenated,cool, fresh water would make for a great survival rate.

I also do agree that the the water probably is absolutely fine. In fact probably better than utility water as there is no chlorine in it to kill the fish.
11-02-2019, 04:58 PM
Snubby

Might not be a bad idea either to put a canopy or roof over the pool, most pools I've ever swam in get hotter then bath water during the summer months. I'm assuming the above ground isn't really deep, keeping aerated well and freshwater would combat the problem as others suggested, I'm just picturing sun baked minners judging from our heat we get in the summer down here in MS :dono
11-22-2019, 12:17 PM
Eric_Rybak

you could start your own fathead minnows supply business (supply aquarium owners, bait shops, fishing stocking efforts, etc).

I used to use one of those blue kiddie pools for storing my fish I'd catch, crayfish, and minnows before releasing them.
11-26-2019, 11:43 AM
Gizmo1

I used to work in a bait shop the shop had a window unit air conditioner rigged up with a tube in the minnow trough to cool the water

also at menards in the tarp section they have a heavy duty mesh tarp. This was similar to canopy’s I used in the military we would set them up for shade and they worked well and don’t catch as much wind as a tarp
01-20-2020, 01:05 PM
Bendalu

50 gal plastic drum

I'm using an old above ground s pool pump on 50 GAl plastic barrel .Have had good luck holding bait for months
03-01-2020, 08:32 PM
tnduxcaller

Look up Kentucky State University Aquaculure Dept. They have a lot of useful info. Some may be under Dr Andrew Ray.
03-01-2020, 08:32 PM
tnduxcaller

Aquaculture (sp)
03-14-2020, 07:47 AM
cva34

Quote:

Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

It's ground water. Unless there is a source of contamination it should be fime for your purposes. More than likely it has a lot less chemicals than Municipal water supplies

Probably correct....If you dont need lots of water .....I used to use Distilled but then I got Idea ..I have a dehumidifier that runs as needed...24/7...Pretty well makes 80pints in 24hours...Thats what I use for my worms.......Guess a man could use AC drippings too...