Aerators -- Does ANYBODY make a good one?

[TXSlab]

I stopped using a battery powered motor aerator several years ago due to them not lasting me more than a year or so. I started using an oxygen bottle with a low flow regulator for live shrimp in my saltwater fishing. Now I use the same oxygen bottle for my freshwater minnows as well.

Using straight oxygen keeps bait alive longer than “air” which contains ~21% oxygen. I’m getting over 360 hours of oxygen per fill of my cylinder. That’s 45 days if I run the oxygen for 8 hours a day, which I normally don’t run it that long. A tackle store near me refills the tank when needed, but the welding shop where I get my Argon gas can fill the tank with oxygen too.

It’s not for everyone, and does cost ~$200 for the tank, regulator, and aeration stone - but once you try it, you’ll be impressed. Minnows will try to jump out of your bait tank when their jacked up on 100% oxygen - they’re super lively on the hook as well. I use it a lot in my saltwater fishing for shrimp, croakers, and mullet - so it made sense for me to use it crappie fishing with minnows as well.

Here are a few pictures of the tank installed on my saltwater boat. I have the oxygen tank mounted on a quick release bracket designed for a fire extinguisher, so it stays locked rock solid when mounted, but with the push of a button - you can remove it in less that 2 seconds.