Home bait tank

[Cap'n larry]

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone on the forum can give some insight on what size pump or pumps they are using in their home bait tanks? I’m reading a lot online that people are using a pond pump?? My dad and I are building a home tank. Wanted to post a pic but not quite sure how. 😂 We are using two round tanks and connecting them together. One tank
Is 550 gallons and the other is 400. Working on a filter set up right now. Any advise or comments would be great!

[greywalls]

Wow, that sounds like an awesome setup. Pretty close to full-fledged aquaculture. Looking forward to seeing pics.

[BentRod]

Is the pump going to be used for air or filter?

[Cap'n larry]

Bentrod the plan is to use the pump for drawing the water up to a filter. Still not sure about how to make the filter yet. I recently went to Tennessee And stopped at that big fish outfitters. I was trying to sneak a pic at their filter set up but couldn’t quite see it.

[BentRod]

Easiest is just to make it like a big Greyline-like filter with either the pump inside the tank (how we have it) or the pump outside of the tank pulling from a center intake (which is what Big fish outfitters has). Here’s some pictures of ours - first is the old setup and the second one is a patent pending mod. we made to prevent filter overflow when we aren’t around for days/weeks at a time. The filter just drains back into the tank for aeration. We also have a second smaller pump/filter for added filtration with a big lid or extra air (with a dannco) - these don’t get run all that much.

[Cap'n larry]

Thanks for the pics! Gives me an idea what to do. So do
You have 2 filters? Are the buckets connected together? Also what are you doing for filter media? And we weren’t sure about how big of a pump you need for this size tank? My dad got his hands on a swimming pool pump today?😂. Not sure if this will work???

[BentRod]

Aug 22, 2018 19:59:33 GMT -5 Cap'n larry said:

Thanks for the pics! Gives me an idea what to do. So do
You have 2 filters? Are the buckets connected together? Also what are you doing for filter media? And we weren’t sure about how big of a pump you need for this size tank? My dad got his hands on a swimming pool pump today?😂. Not sure if this will work???

The two back buckets are on separate pumps. The front bucket is just an overflow bucket (although we do keep filter material in it as well to filter the overflow). We mainly use EheimFIX and polyfil (yam suggested using varying micron filter layers which helps clear it even better). If needed may use carbon bags too.

As far as the pump, it kind of depends on your filter run/height. I think you want to turn the tank over 3-4 times per hour once you factor in your lost head pressure. I’m thinking about a 1200gph pump on a 500 or less gallon tank is probably enough. mwardncsu may have some advice on the size. For aeration/current, a 360gph pump is plenty I would think.

[mwardncsu]

yep - a 1200 gph pump is plenty. That is a 2000 gph and its honestly way too much and we have to choke it down with the ball valve. For aeration, 360 - 500 is fine - we have a Dance in-line connected to the output of the pump at the bottom of the tank

[Cap'n larry]

Thanks for all the input guys! So is it just a submersible type pump you are using bentrod? And for the aeration with the Dannco is it just a bilge pump? Just wondering if I can get a pump like yours local?I will try and post some pics but can’t figure out how. I have used photo bucket before but couldn’t remember how yesterday. Thanks again guys. My dad just retired and said he’s gonna keep this tank going for me if I can fill it with bait. 😂. He’s really excited about it. Sorry to keep asking so many questions. Keeping bait on
This large of a scale is all new to us.

[BentRod]

I believe ours are both magnetic drive style pond pumps. Check Lowe’s or similar locally. Amazon probably has the best deals online.

[R22]

I use Little Giant pumps in my tank. They are both submersible magnetic pumps. I purchased them in 2016. They are quiet, produce virtually no heat and although I turn them off a few times per year, they still working flawlessly. This brand was suggested to me by some of the people that helped advise me when I established my home tank. I would highly recommend the Little Giant brand.

I use the largest size K1 media. It does a great job, however, you have to be able to flush it without it dumping back into your tank.

[Cap'n larry]

Thanks dudes! I saw that little giant pump online yesterday r-22. Guess I will order that one then!I will get some pics up soon.

[SquidHound]

Two Danner 950 or 950 for the filter and 700 for the dannco venturi. Used them for a few years and no problems out of any of them

[Gator]

Aug 23, 2018 8:55:10 GMT -5 R22 said:

I use Little Giant pumps in my tank. They are both submersible magnetic pumps. I purchased them in 2016. They are quiet, produce virtually no heat and although I turn them off a few times per year, they still working flawlessly. This brand was suggested to me by some of the people that helped advise me when I established my home tank. I would highly recommend the Little Giant brand.

I use the largest size K1 media. It does a great job, however, you have to be able to flush it without it dumping back into your tank.

If you choose the Little Giant I would suggest to get them quickly. Their parent company, Franklin Electric, announced a 12-18% price increase. Effective 09/01. 

[Cap'n larry]

Thanks gator. I actually may go with that danner pump squid hound mentioned. They seem a little cheaper on amazon