Hey guys, I usually log on and do a lot of reading & learning but rarely post. I’ve been striper fishing for a few years now but I still consider myself a newbie so I tend to stay away from giving any advice until I know what I’m actually talking about 
I just started using a 20 gallon G&M bait tank and I’ve been having trouble with the water getting cloudy/dirty and smelly. I’ve tried keeping the foam off as much as I can but I keep forgetting to put some Foam-Off or coffee creamer in the boat so I’ve periodically been just scooping out the little bit of foam that does form, which ain’t much. I’ve been keeping the water cool and filter clean but it doesn’t take long to develop the dirty cloudy look and horrible smell. I am currently not adding any chemicals until someone can suggest one or another option to resolving this issue. I always use the water supplied directly out of the tank the bait was being kept in which already contains salt but sometimes I will add a little to replenish. Does anyone have any suggestions?? Thanks in advance!
How many baits are you trying to keep in the 20 gallon tank? A little foam is normal but the cloudy water shouldn’t be expected. Did you use the tank prior to it getting hot? If so, did you have the problem back then?
I use a Grayline tank(28 gallon) that isn’t the best. It doesn’t have the same type of filter system some of the other tanks do but I only have cloudy water after I overload the tank(over 7 dozen or so) on a warm day and fish most of the day. Maybe some day I’ll buy a bigger boat that will have a place to put a 50 gallon tank?!?!?!?!?!?
I hear ya on the 50 gallon. Because of my situation I try to reframe from using the whole bigger is always better quote haha but in this case bigger is definitely always better!! I have not used the tank in cooler weather and the few times I’ve used it period I haven’t stocked it with anymore than 3 dozen. Most of my trips lately have all been last minute short trips where I don’t have but 2 dozen in it.
Might want to try using your own water next time just to see if they do any better. Try using well water or city water with a bit of Prime and rock salt added to it. You can get Prime at pet stores near the aquarium stuff. I try and add the Prime, salt and ice, if needed, and start the tank before even leaving the house.
That works for me and I don’t have a filtered tank, but I normally don’t spend more than 3-4 hours at a time on the lake.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
Have you cleaned the tank well! Try cleaning with clorox outdoor and let soak over night with clean water the rinse with vineger that should do it!
It has got to be the water from the tank you are pulling from. Two dozen shouldn’t have any impact in 20 gallons of water.
I pump lake water into my 30 gallon live well, add 2 cups of water softener salt, and add ice to achieve a comparable temperature to the bait man’s water. I do have to use foam off occasionally but rarely have a problem even with 6-8 dozen good sized herring. David Clyburn will even tell you it’s best to prepare your own water during the hot weather periods and avoid using water out of the bait boat.
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
Thanks for all the input guys! I’m hearing more and more about the water I’m getting from the bait holding tank. Hearing and reading it from 4 people now has me thinking that’s got to be the problem. Now thinking back, it’s making sense for that to be it because in the past I’ve always fished off of my cousin’s boat and we’ve never had this problem except maybe once or twice. He’s got a 20 gallon Super bait tank which is practically the same tank as mine and we’ve always pumped in water from the lake to fill the tank, added the softener and ice like Fog is saying and we have rarely had any of the same issues. I have given the tank a thorough cleaning and replaced all the tubing. Definitely gonna make my own water next trip out which hopefully might be in the morning if everything works out. I do have well water and my only question with using it is that our well water has got the Hydrogen sulfide gas mixed in. I know they say it’s fine for drinking water but I know it plays hell on the pipes and cars. Can this be harmful to the fish in any way? If so, is there any chemical I can add at start up that’s aimed more towards this issue?
Get water from the bait man. Add salt like the others said, go to Petsmart and buy fish stress relief solution. Add a few capfuls to the water, turn on your aerator a few minutes prior to loading ytour baits. You should cycle your water once or twice if you fish all day. I keep three dozen herring alive with only 3 or 4 dying… in a five gallon bucket… on my kayak.
Make sure the water is very cool and an even better trick is to fill your tank with water down at Hope Ferry Landing. River water is as cold as it is down with the striper, its oxygen rich, and some salt added is the equivalent of herring crack.
quote:
Originally posted by Striper StripperThanks for all the input guys! I’m hearing more and more about the water I’m getting from the bait holding tank. Hearing and reading it from 4 people now has me thinking that’s got to be the problem. Now thinking back, it’s making sense for that to be it because in the past I’ve always fished off of my cousin’s boat and we’ve never had this problem except maybe once or twice. He’s got a 20 gallon Super bait tank which is practically the same tank as mine and we’ve always pumped in water from the lake to fill the tank, added the softener and ice like Fog is saying and we have rarely had any of the same issues. I have given the tank a thorough cleaning and replaced all the tubing. Definitely gonna make my own water next trip out which hopefully might be in the morning if everything works out. I do have well water and my only question with using it is that our well water has got the Hydrogen sulfide gas mixed in. I know they say it’s fine for drinking water but I know it plays hell on the pipes and cars. Can this be harmful to the fish in any way? If so, is there any chemical I can add at start up that’s aimed more towards this issue?
Proverbs 3:5-6
This time of year bait guys are catching on lake Murray. That means that you may be getting bait that is not completely seasoned. That will affect their water. Use your own water. Striper skiff gave great advice on whether it is city or well water. Both work. Start with clean water and you will have better luck all day. You will still need some foam off during the day but a few drops at a time is all you should need.
Joby
The fact that the Murray bait is usually not well-purged is a good reason to add plenty of ice. The warmer the water, the higher the bait’s metabolism will be; thus more excrement in your live well causing harmful ammonia. Good point Chipman!
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
I used to get bait at lunch. If I had time I would go back down the ramp on the saluda
and fill up with river water. Cold as can be and probably maxed on oxygen. You can put filter media and a bag of activated charcoal in the filter to pull out ammonia.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
Don’t need to add much of anything to what’s already been said other than do NOT use creamer as foam-off in bait tanks … I know a lot of ppl do it (including certain bait guys) but the stuff will also gum up your pumps …
I use foam-off and a spray bottle … dump a couple oz in the spray bottle and fill the rest with water … when it gets foamy, one or two sprays and you’re good to go … no wasted product … no gummy pumps … no foamy/dirty water … The spray bottle will separate over time but a quick shake takes care of that …
I NEVER get water from the bait shops … I have well water at my house … I fill the tank and put a cup of salt for every 25 gallons and a tablespoon of Shad Saver (light blue) OR a teaspoon of Bait Saver (dark blue) depending on what bait I have …
I will RUN THE TANK from the time I fill it in order to oxygenate the water … Well water has a very low O2 content due to being … well … in the ground …
When on the water I will leave my lid open until the tank water temps are within 10 degrees of lake temps - after that I try to keep the lid closed as much as possible … Any more than 10 degrees colder and the hot lake water will often shock the herring as soon as you hook them and drop them in the water resulting in … well … dead bait …
Other than that the filtration is up to whatever bait tank you have … I have a Grayline so I have three stages of filtration including a Carbon bag for the ammonia … So we can keep Herring for days and Shad for weeks … although I have a tote tank in my garage for the long term stuff …
Lastly, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS clean you bait tank as soon as you get home … it’s a PITA but it’ll save you in the long run … No need for anything crazy … just hose it all out really good and completely drain it with all the filter pieces laid out separately … I do not use bleach in my tanks … heard too many stories of ppl not rinsing them out enough and then burn the gills out of an entire tank of bait … I do
All really good stuff but I’m guessing no one has an answer on the hydrogen sulfide gas mixed in with my well water? I found one article that suggests aeration will remove the hydrogen sulfide. Curious if anyone knows for sure. I’d hate to kill off several dozen bait. Thanks again for all the help guys
Plenty of people use well water from this area and I’ve never known of anyone having to do anything specifically to remove H2S. I did see something that said filtering through activated charcoal will remove low levels though.
Is there any reason to think your well water has a higher level of H2S than others in the area? Is there a noticeable “rotten egg” smell to it?
I wouldn’t not at least try it because a very slight possibility of loss of a few dozen baits. Plenty of people doing it.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
As Lawcrusher said
Lastly, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS clean you bait tank as soon as you get home … it’s a PITA but it’ll save you in the long run … No need for anything crazy … just hose it all out really good and completely drain it with all the filter pieces laid out separately … I do not use bleach in my tanks … heard too many stories of ppl not rinsing them out enough and then burn the gills out of an entire tank of bait … I don’t have $$$ to burn and I’m not one of the lucky ones who gets his bait for free … the best thing in the absence of chemicals is pure sunlight … take the lid off and stick it in the yard on a sunny day … the UV will burn off anything still in the tank and allow it all to air out .
I always do this as well. I have never had a smelly tank or
had bait to die doing this. It only takes a few minutes
and is well worth it imo
Seapro43
quote:
Originally posted by steelytomI used to get bait at lunch. If I had time I would go back down the ramp on the saluda
and fill up with river water. Cold as can be and probably maxed on oxygen. You can put filter media and a bag of activated charcoal in the filter to pull out ammonia.Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
Activated charcoal will NOT remove ammonia. See this link for more information http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/resources/library-presentations/aquarium-hobby/activated-carbon.
Rick K
quote:
Originally posted by LawcrusherOther than that the filtration is up to whatever bait tank you have … I have a Grayline so I have three stages of filtration including a Carbon bag for the ammonia … So we can keep Herring for days and Shad for weeks … although I have a tote tank in my garage for the long term stuff …
2005 Sea Pro 2100cc / Yamaha 150hp 4-Stroke
Rick,
See the above post. Your carbon is not doing anything for the ammonia!
I always leave the bait tank lid open, as ammonia will just about evaporate as fast as it is formed by non-seasoned bait in the bait tank.
Rick K
quote:
Originally posted by Striper StripperI do have well water and my only question with using it is that our well water has got the Hydrogen sulfide gas mixed in. I know they say it’s fine for drinking water but I know it plays hell on the pipes and cars. Can this be harmful to the fish in any way? If so, is there any chemical I can add at start up that’s aimed more towards this issue?
Activated charcoal WILL remove low levels of Hydrogen Sulfide. http://www.wellowner.org/water-quality/hydrogen-sulfide/
Rick K
Thanks Rick K, great link! StriperSkiff, I do have the rotten egg smell and it’s pretty strong at times. It’s most pleasant to smell when sipping straight from the faucet to rinse after brushing my teeth lol.
But I believe you guys were right. I took a trip out Sunday at day break to try the well water. I filled the tank the night before and ran it over night. I added a small cup of salt then and another before I left that morning. I read where simply aerating alone will remove the hydrogen sulfide. I didn’t add any ice as the well water was still pretty cold that morning. Turns out it had to be the bait man’s water like yall said. 3 dozen herring and 6 hours later I’m pulling the boat out with my limit and STILL crystal clear bait tank water with no smell!!! I did have a slight bit of foam form like yall said it would but was nothing the creamer didn’t eliminate (Gotta get the Foam Off). The tank was definitely easier to clean up this time afterwards. Thanks for all the info!!