I was out with a guide this weekend who shared with me that he has a “bubbler” in his live well that pumps small air bubbles into a circulating live well. He stated that this helped to keep live shrimp and other baits alive. I was hoping to get additional input on these devices. My boat has 3 live wells, but no bubbles.
I welcome any comments addressing the following questions:
Do these devices help keep bait (especially shrimp or menhaden) alive?
Yes, they are crucial for keeping anything alive for any reasonable amount of time. Mudminnows are tough enough to not require them except on super hot days, but they still get weak and drowsy without them.
Without water movement (and, preferably, in bubble form) you don’t get good oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange, and your bait will die of CO2 poisoning. No different than a grossly overstocked, overheated aquarium.
If I am using a LOT of minnows or live shrimp, and I’m not able to easily do water changes, I also like to throw in a squirt of an aquarium product that neutralized ammonia, which also poisons (and makes weak/lethargic) your bait. “Prime” isn’t all that cheap but is strong, or any liquid ammonia-neutralizing product that works in saltwater aquariums. I use this stuff because I always have it around and I throw some in my bait cooler/bucket when I leave the house.
As for which one to suggest, I’ll let others who have tried those products make a recommendation. I simply use those cheap D-battery air bubblers.
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I use the a D cell battery operated one as well, works great, doesn’t eat up the batteries to badly, I usually get 3-4 days out of a 2 set with it running the entire time. Been using the same one for 3 yrs, Got it at Crosby’s for around ten bucks.
keywest 1520
70 yami
(She’s little, but she’s pretty, skinny and fast.Just like the girls I dreamt of before I knew better
I also like to throw in a squirt of an aquarium product that neutralized ammonia, which also poisons (and makes weak/lethargic) your bait. “Prime” isn’t all that cheap but is strong, or any liquid ammonia-neutralizing product that works in saltwater aquariums. I use this stuff because I always have it around and I throw some in my bait cooler/bucket when I leave the house.
I do this too. It does help.
It seems like adding air bubbles would help if your live well circulation isn’t cutting it. Your live well is pumping water in and letting it out, right?
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
I’m not sure everyone here fully understands what Crimson is saying.
This guide, put an airstone in a fully functioning livewell with a running aerator? I don?t see the point of doing this.
The dissolved oxygen in the raw water being pumped into the livewell far exceeds the small amount being added by the airstone.
So my questions would be:
Whats the benefit?
Why waste the batteries?
Why disturb/stress the bait with a constant flow of bubbles?
Why add another system to get tangled or get in the way?
The only situation I think this would be handy is if you have a tendency to turn off your aerator once you reach your fishing spot. I leave mine running anytime there is bait in the livewell. No need for bubbles unless it?s for your own comfort or the aerator is shut off.
JMHO
I also like to throw in a squirt of an aquarium product that neutralized ammonia, which also poisons (and makes weak/lethargic) your bait. “Prime” isn’t all that cheap but is strong, or any liquid ammonia-neutralizing product that works in saltwater aquariums. I use this stuff because I always have it around and I throw some in my bait cooler/bucket when I leave the house.
I do this too. It does help.
It seems like adding air bubbles would help if your live well circulation isn’t cutting it. Your live well is pumping water in and letting it out, right?
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
I think you were asking Crimson about the livewell circulation, but if you were asking me, then no my baitwell does not because my baitwell is either a bucket or a small cooler. In these cases, I def. need the bubbles, and the ammonia neutralizer is very useful.
quote:Originally posted by friogatto
I’m not sure everyone here fully understands what Crimson is saying.
This guide, put an airstone in a fully functioning livewell with a running aerator? I don?t see the point of doing this.
The dissolved oxygen in the raw water being pumped into the livewell far exceeds the small amount being added by the airstone.
So my questions would be:
Whats the benefit?
Why waste the batteries?
Why disturb/stress the bait with a constant flow of bubbles?
Why add anot
Thanks to all who responded. My live wells are recirculating. I will probably hold off on a bubbler for now, but I may reconsider if the shrimp aren’t lasting long, or perhaps, if I want to try to keep them alive overnight if my boat is out of the water. In that case, I’ll probably get one of the battery powered ones.
I use a bubbler all the time. The Bubbler adds a lot more oxygen than the circulating water. In the hot summer the dissolved oxygen is much less. I am able to keep more shrimp and especially menhaden alive longer with the bubbler. In live well pump uses about 1.5 amps per hour but the bubbler uses 0.25 amps per hour. When I am running the motor I use both when I stop I will use mainly the bubbler and intermittently use the live well pump. I want to make sure if I’m at the Jetties for a that my battery will not be dead.
If you are leaving bait in your livewell overnight or dont run the aerator all the time, get a bubbler. I have the D-Cell battery bubbler and use it to hold bait over night/day in a cooler in the garage.