As many of my esteem club members have seen I use an old 30 gallon foam “Berry tank” that has served me well for many years. Jamie actually donated it to me when I started the in the club several years back when I “got hooked” on striper. I use a modified Dannco “Let’m Live” venturi/rule system for aeration that works very well. Like me, it’s old and ugly but still gets after the fish when it can.
I am currently looking for a new/used 30 gallon for tournament days, but in the mean time I have two 20 gallon tanks I am trying out for non-tournament days. I do not leave my tanks on the boat normally so changing over is not an issue.
One is a “Sunshine” milky white (almost clear) double wall “slim line” tank (like new) that fits well in the boat. It uses the plastic ring type aerator system with a rule pump and seems to work well. The water surrounds the tank due to the double wall for insulation. And it has the separate filtration compartment. So far it has performed pretty well but I am not totally sold on the tank yet. I understand Sunshine bought Grayline tanks.
The second tank that I have options on (but have not used yet) is a 20 gallon “Super Bait” tank (solid white walls) and has the grey PVC ring type aerator running up around the top of the lid. I know Super Bait is suppose to be a great tank, but I have not used this type of aerator system before, so I am not familiar with the system or it’s reliability. The tank is in very good shape and hope to try it out very soon.
I am trying to decide which 20 gallon tank may be best to keep for non-tournament day use…
Questions:
I know I can change the PVC ring system in the super tank over to a Dannco venturi system pretty easily if needed, but does the ring system work well for herring for a full day use?
Has anyone had issues with either of these smaller tanks with regards to keeping the water cooled, oxygenated, and bait alive for a full day?
Would anybody like to donate a new 30 gallon tank?.. (Just thought I would throw th
The problem with the ring aeration around the top is that it creates too much foam and surface disturbance. It certainly aerates well but I like to look down in the tank and see all the baits swimming around so I can cherry pick the ones I want to use. Even without the foam, the surface disturbance makes it nearly impossible to see, kind of like trying to gig flounder when its raining, you just cant see past the surface. If you have to scoop up several baits in the net to find the biggest one (or a small one sometimes) then throughout the day you will knock a lot of scales off your baits… I am certainly a fan of the Dannco venturi system. The pump will last longer when you don’t have to entrain air into the pump. The Dannco system keeps your pump off the bottom of the tank so no more carbon or zeolite that escapes my filter box will get sucked into the pump. You can also run compressed oxygen safely into the air line with the Dannco system (though I run mine through a ceramic diffuser). You can also make a venturi aeration system for a few dollars out of pvc couplings.
I’ve spent about 85% of my life’s wages on fishing, the rest I just wasted…
I would certainly go with the Danco over the spray bar which can be rough on the bait. As far as tanks, you’re right Van. That is a question of personal preference or needs. If I continually had to keep bait for more than a day, I would go with a high end filter tank. But as yall know, I keep it simple.
I have 33 gallon live well under my leaning post with a small hole drilled near my plugged overflow for my airtube connected to a ceramic air stone. In the battery compartment is my Marine Metals 12 volt air pump that retails for around $40. Yes. scales come off at the bottom of the tank, but I’m not dealing with filter material all day. I carry 6-10 dozen normal sized baits and rarely if ever lose a single one. At the end of the day, I scrub the gunk off the sides of the well, remove the remaining bait, and pull the lower plug. On the run in, the well drains clean and I run fresh water through as I tick to the dock. Ready for the next batch of bait.
Keeping bait for a day’s fishing is not brain surgery. Adequate air, salt, and clean cool water is all you need.
I use a vest with the spray bar. I do not have foam issues unless I put too much salt in or the bait has been in for 12 or more hours. I have a keep alive venturi pump, would I be able to put that on my vest? How do you convert from the spray bar to the venturi?
Steely you will probably get 20 options to your question, but if I convert mine I will probably purchase another venturi from Dan at Dannco and use a rule 360 pump. I will drill a hole in the wall of the tank for a short piece of PVC (think 3/4"OD) to go between the bait side of the tank and the filter compartment a couple inches up from the bottom. The pvc would need to extend about 1" to 1 1/2" into the filter side compartment for a hose to slide on. Connect the rule to then venturi and then place them in the filter side. ( I wll probably use suction feet on the rule pump to keep it from shifting and to add support). Then connect a short piece of rubber hose between the venturi outlet and the PVC nipple. This hose makes a good connection between the venturi and the pvc reducing pump noise and vibration onto the tank walls. A 2-3ft piece of small diameter clear tubing would then be run from the venturi air intake port and up to the lid area. The tubing would be secured above the water line with a clamp, or run outside the tank by making a slight trench for both it and the power cord to lay in when the lid is closed. Tie wraps work well for securing the hoses and wiring.
If you have limited room in the filter side of your tank you may have to use a PVC 45 degree elbow, and possibly move one leg of the filter basket inward some to have room for the pump and venturi. Or if you use the “Keep Alive” system, it mounts to the bottom of the rule pump and takes up very little room, and has suction feet on it. All you then need is a short piece of flex hose between the rule outlet and the PVC.
I agree with Fog, it’s not science, but it’s just what you are comfortable with and how much time and money you wish to put into it. I have a friend who just bought a 19’ center console with a small bait tank in the center/rear area near the battery compartment. I am going to recommend he use the system Fog describes because he doesn’t want (or need) to have a complicated filtering or task oriented system to deal with. I can’
I use a single stone that is tied in to both outputs on the pump. Works fine. I’m sure those who sell the fancy venturri’s want me to shut up; so I will:sunglasses:
That’s what I remembered Fog, but didn’t want to say without confirmation… Hey, there is nothing wrong with simplicity when it works… And if you can make a venturi from PVC verses buying one, go for it as well. I know Billy has made several… but of course Billy made the first Lunar Module in his garage as well! LOL
Thanks Vanman, very detailed answer. I appreciate it. One thing I do like about the spray bar, you can definitely hear when it’s running. When I had the venturi running on my “cooler tank” I kicked the wire and killed all my bait before I realized it.
