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Post by Shadslinger on Oct 12, 2016 11:33:41 GMT -5
I'm still having trouble keeping bait any longer than the day I fish. They do great all day. Stay nice and frisky but if I try to keep them when I go home things deteriorate fast. I have a 30gal Baker bait tank. It is setup just like a superII. Pulls water through a standpipe which empty into a filter box through a scale basket on top, then filter, then out of box where the 500gph rule pump pushes the water back into the bait side. Also have a dannco venturi drawing fresh air from outside and mixing tiny bubbles into water as well.
For filter material Ive always just used loose polyfil stuffed into filter box. I'm wondering if this is not filtering enough impurities out of the water. I usually always get cloudy water after 8 or so hrs. I'm not overcrowding for sure. Especially compared to pictures of others bait filled tanks. Only option left is the filtration itself.
What do you guys use for filters? How many layers of filters? And if more than one layer describe how you layer them and what materials are used in each layer.
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Post by ncsportfisher on Oct 12, 2016 14:56:34 GMT -5
I have the 40 gallon version of this tank and i am curious as well. I use the poly fill as well, I am not sure what the best is to use. Mine still has the spray bar on it as well. It works for me. I only use mine when its colder out but I always have to do water changes..
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Post by primetime on Oct 12, 2016 15:21:47 GMT -5
Ive heard mward sells filters to custom fit your tank. I use the foam from wal mart in the section they sell pillows. Its poly fil but not the loose poly fil. I cut the foam larger then the filter box. I place 4 of those filters in the bottom of the box. Then place the smaller box in which catches slime and scales. Sometimes i place a coarse filter from lowes in the pond section of lowes. Here is a pic of the poly fil i use.  |
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Post by ncsportfisher on Oct 12, 2016 15:32:47 GMT -5
Thanks for that! I will give it a try, seems cleaner than the poly fiber.
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Post by coheasion on Oct 12, 2016 15:32:59 GMT -5
Are you doing water changes a couple times per day? Those filters will only filter out sediment/crap etcetera and won't filter out ammonia and other harmful stuff all that well.
Also - get dead or injured baits out of the tank as soon as you can - Aa lot of my issues came when I tried to keep bait that was injured during the catch period thinking I would just use it quick or maybe he will perk up in a bit - I've learned it's just not worth it as injured bait contaminates the whole tank a lot quicker.
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Yam
New Member
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Post by Yam on Oct 12, 2016 16:11:21 GMT -5
This is my current setup from bottom to top. Bottom - Grout Sponge
4 Small Bags Charcoal (About 2 inch thick) 2 More Grout Sponges Blue Pond Filter
Top - Scale Catcher I also keep a bag of Zeolite on the pump side of the tank.
NOTES: // I rinse the Blue Filter and scale catcher at the top of my filter stack every hour or so. // After 8 hours, I will turn off the tank and clean out all of the filters. // If I start with well water, I never replace it. Have gone as long as 4 days. // Lake water needs replaced every day. // Major difference in longevity of water if all bait gets purged in live well. // Get rid of all sick or dead bait. // Used bait on hooks go to livewell! // Important...too much water velocity is bad! I try to find the lowest velocity that still provides filtering when boat is not moving. I do this by increasing hole diameter of output and sending the flow slightly downward. I have my tank dialed in...but...it took a lot of playing around before I was happy with the results. GOOD LUCK!
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Post by Shadslinger on Oct 12, 2016 16:26:08 GMT -5
Cohesion I do usually change out half the water when I get back home. I also use well water like Yam mentioned. I did put a lot of baits back for re use. Is it reasonable to believe my loose poly filter is causing the problem? Gonna upgrade to the better filters mentioned and hope to have good results. Yam can't be wrong. That guy is a fishing scientist.
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Post by striperjohn on Oct 12, 2016 16:41:50 GMT -5
I'm still having trouble keeping bait any longer than the day I fish. They do great all day. Stay nice and frisky but if I try to keep them when I go home things deteriorate fast. I have a 30gal Baker bait tank. It is setup just like a superII. Pulls water through a standpipe which empty into a filter box through a scale basket on top, then filter, then out of box where the 500gph rule pump pushes the water back into the bait side. Also have a dannco venturi drawing fresh air from outside and mixing tiny bubbles into water as well. For filter material Ive always just used loose polyfil stuffed into filter box. I'm wondering if this is not filtering enough impurities out of the water. I usually always get cloudy water after 8 or so hrs. I'm not overcrowding for sure. Especially compared to pictures of others bait filled tanks. Only option left is the filtration itself. What do you guys use for filters? How many layers of filters? And if more than one layer describe how you layer them and what materials are used in each layer. Shad most of what these guys are saying most of us do in one manner or another. One thing I didn't see mentioned was keeping your tank lid open except when running. That helps keep the ammonia down.Poor filtration will cause that cloudy water, activated charcoal in bags will alleviate the problem. Rinse them good when done. I usually have a layer of prefilter chips over the bags and two pond filters above that. |
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Post by Shadslinger on Oct 12, 2016 16:46:38 GMT -5
I forgot to mention that I do leave lid open. What do you mean by filter chips ?
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Yam
New Member
Posts: 585
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Post by Yam on Oct 12, 2016 16:57:25 GMT -5
I did put a lot of baits back for re use. Is it reasonable to believe my loose poly filter is causing the problem? Baits that have been hooked will make a mess out of my water even with the mad scientist filter stack. After my first tourney, my bait tank looked like "silence of lambs" .... all dead and yellow. It was because I was unsticking bait and dropping them back in the tank. Using the livewell for this purpose has made all the difference. I doubt your polyfil is the problem unless it has adsorbed ammonia and other poison on it. |
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Post by steviejayvaughan on Oct 12, 2016 17:10:58 GMT -5
It's not the polyfil. I've used it for years without issue. Always liked it because you could pull the top layer off as the poo builds up. Within the first hour the filter will need to be cleaned. Especially if your catching your bait in shallow water. They will be upchucking and pooping like crazy with the first hour and will continue for 48hrs. If ammonia is the problem and they are getting red nose you may want to think about using prime in your tank or any other water treatment that will convert the ammonia into ammonium. As the water cools down you shouldn't have as many problems. Ammonia is much less toxic at cooler temps. If your using well water for a water change prime is also good for detoxifying heavy metals as well as killing nitrates and nitrites. A small bottle is only$8 and will last all season.
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Post by ncsportfisher on Oct 12, 2016 17:34:24 GMT -5
This is my current setup from bottom to top. Bottom - Grout Sponge
4 Small Bags Charcoal (About 2 inch thick) 2 More Grout Sponges Blue Pond Filter
Top - Scale Catcher I also keep a bag of Zeolite on the pump side of the tank.
NOTES: // I rinse the Blue Filter and scale catcher at the top of my filter stack every hour or so. // After 8 hours, I will turn off the tank and clean out all of the filters. // If I start with well water, I never replace it. Have gone as long as 4 days. // Lake water needs replaced every day. // Major difference in longevity of water if all bait gets purged in live well. // Get rid of all sick or dead bait. // Used bait on hooks go to livewell! // Important...too much water velocity is bad! I try to find the lowest velocity that still provides filtering when boat is not moving. I do this by increasing hole diameter of output and sending the flow slightly downward. I have my tank dialed in...but...it took a lot of playing around before I was happy with the results. GOOD LUCK!
Sorry to hijack shad! I am trying to find the best setup as well. Yam, what blue filter do you use? And I've tried the sponges but they tend to float! Any suggestion there? |
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Post by striperjohn on Oct 12, 2016 18:36:01 GMT -5
Fluval prefilter chips, cover up your charcoal bags with them and keeps bags from getting gummed up by shad crap. Just rinse out when you get home, reusable for a year of fishing. Petsmart or most pet stores with fish carry them.
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Yam
New Member
Posts: 585
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Post by Yam on Oct 12, 2016 18:44:54 GMT -5
This is my current setup from bottom to top. Bottom - Grout Sponge
4 Small Bags Charcoal (About 2 inch thick) 2 More Grout Sponges Blue Pond Filter
Top - Scale Catcher I also keep a bag of Zeolite on the pump side of the tank.
NOTES: // I rinse the Blue Filter and scale catcher at the top of my filter stack every hour or so. // After 8 hours, I will turn off the tank and clean out all of the filters. // If I start with well water, I never replace it. Have gone as long as 4 days. // Lake water needs replaced every day. // Major difference in longevity of water if all bait gets purged in live well. // Get rid of all sick or dead bait. // Used bait on hooks go to livewell! // Important...too much water velocity is bad! I try to find the lowest velocity that still provides filtering when boat is not moving. I do this by increasing hole diameter of output and sending the flow slightly downward. I have my tank dialed in...but...it took a lot of playing around before I was happy with the results. GOOD LUCK!
Sorry to hijack shad! I am trying to find the best setup as well. Yam, what blue filter do you use? And I've tried the sponges but they tend to float! Any suggestion there? I included links in my original post. Just click on blue filter. The grout sponges are my workhorses. They don't float because I poke a hole in them and push them down on the standpipe. They are all you really need. The blue filter is over priced and will be removed from rotation once it disintegrates. |
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Post by ncsportfisher on Oct 12, 2016 18:50:25 GMT -5
Sorry to hijack shad! I am trying to find the best setup as well. Yam, what blue filter do you use? And I've tried the sponges but they tend to float! Any suggestion there? I included links in my original post. Just click on blue filter. The grout sponges are my workhorses. They don't float because I poke a hole in them and push them down on the standpipe. They are all you really need. The blue filter is over priced and will be removed from rotation once it disintegrates. I'll have to check on my PC! Can't see the link on my phone for some reason. Thanks for the input |
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