I converted a freezer into a bait tank; it has a inkbird temp probe and a pond pump with a filter system. The lid is insulated and it has an 24/7 natural light LED light bar from Amazon for aquariums.
Has anyone had experience with keeping minnows/leaches alive for long periods of time?
How is it done!
Thanks in advance!
UV Sterilizer. Light encourages algae growth. Sponge filters changed daily. Your Freezer system is probably as much water as your average bait shops bait tanks. We cleaned ours 2-3 times a day and changed filters daily. Media filters were changed quarterly, and the UV filter was serviced yearly. A filtered water system was used to keep the water going in safe and chemical free.
If your setting up that size of a tank, watch your quantity pending what state your in. Many states have a quantity limit of minnows before you need a dealers license
If your setting up that size of a tank, watch your quantity pending what state your in. Many states have a quantity limit of minnows before you need a dealers license
I think this would be my last worry, maybe I’m a wild man but I don’t ever see the police coming to count your bait in your garage.
I just dumped some minnows that I’ve had since a week before Christmas sitting in a gallon bucket in my garage that I keep around 45*. No aerator or anything, just changed the water maybe every 10 days. I probably started with 5 dozen and lost about a dozen over that time. Unless you’re really keeping minnows a long time or a huge quantity, I really don’t think much is needed other than keeping them cold. These were fatheads which I’m sure are a little more hardy than shiners.
It’s all about the water. Best case would be to use well water to avoid chemicals. If you have a drain near I’d install an over flow drain on your Freezer. I’d then install a water supply nozzle to bring in a stream of water.
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