Converting a cooler to a livewell!

[Big Worm]

Help me out here guys (gals), I am about to do it. I have read online about doing and seen some ideas. But would like very much to see what you may have done and what you have seen. What has not worked, I will be mainly keeping finger mullet alive and shrimp too.

Thanks, look forward to this thread, going to be doing this very soon so all the details and help you can provide will be great......:popcorn:

[TreednNC]

I can give ya some constructions on turning a cut off 55gal drum into a baittank...it'll take me some time tho lol

[Railroader]

Allright BW, here you go. I've been there and done that and it works GREAT. I found it to be CRAZY to pay $50 for a bucket with a bubbler on it, and decided that there had to be a better way....

I came up with this thing to use on my 'Yak. Best part is, I only have about $15 bucks in it..:cool:

Go buy whatever cooler you like, and a bubbler...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/Rob69/IMG_0814.jpg

Screw the bubbler to the side of the cooler, making sure not to penetrate the inside. Drill a hole for the hose, above the water line in the cooler.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/Rob69/IMG_0817.jpg

Secure the stone to the bottom with a big dab of GOOP!. Don't attatch the hose until the GOOP! sets.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/Rob69/IMG_0815.jpg

This one will keep a couple dozen shrimp or mud minnows all day.

I have a 5 gallon water cooler done the same way, that I use fishing on the pier, it'll keep finger mullet, 3-4 small whiting, or several pogies, just change the water when it gets nasty. A drop bucket takes care of this task.

This trick also works well in a boat situation with a 48 QT, and a 12V aereator. Build it the same way with boat-type hoses and fittings. Use a small bilge pump, and you can make it re-circulate constantly with new water from overboard.

Everyone ALWAYS asks about my bait buckets, and I've even had one STOLEN, they work so well! :rolleyes:

[okimavich]

One thing about the container is that you may want vent it manually or permanently. If you don't let the CO2 out, you just end up suffocating them. So you will need to open up the top every once in a while and don't fill the container with water to the top.

[justinfisch01]

I have found that is it hard to keep finger mullet alive for any length of time.

[AtlantaKing]

RR, I've noticed that the airstones get clogged up after a period of time and do not work as well. When I swap to a new one, the difference is amazing. Can you remove the stone from the goop to replace it?

Justinfisch01 finger mullet can be kept alive, but it takes a lot of work. It basically involves a 100-200% water change per hour: meaning, if you were to keep two dozen finger mullet in a 5 gallon bucket, you'd have to change out 10 gallons of water per hour (drain half and refill with fresh seawater every 15 minutes). This works for peanut bunker and other delicate baitfish, too.

[barty b]

I have a 72 QT Rubbermaid oval storage bin with an external mount recirculating 750GPH pump...It will keep 30-40 finger mullet alive and well all day,as long as you keep them cool..I place those Blue Ice blocks in there and keep the lid on to shade fromd direct sunlight. No water chang needed...The MAIN key to keeping mullet alive is,1st Dont over crowd them and 2nd..The tank cannot be SQUARE..The sides need to be at least rounded somewhat..Mullet are stupid and will beat themselves to death running into the tank walls. They need to be able to swim around and around without hitting the walls.

[Railroader]

RR, I've noticed that the airstones get clogged up after a period of time and do not work as well. When I swap to a new one, the difference is amazing. Can you remove the stone from the goop to replace it?



Yep, the whole stone/glob of goop peels right off...;)

[okimavich]

Realistically, I don't think you need an airstone. The only two reasons I can think of why you would need one is 1) smaller air bubbles and 2) to hold the end of the airline down near the bottom of the container.

Reason 1 can cause problems in some fish as they tend to swallow the smaller bubbles and end up floating.

Reason 2 can be remedied in a number other ways.

The whole reason for a bubbler is to cause the water to circulate from the bottom up. The O2/CO2 exchange happens at the water's surface. This is why barty's use of a water pump works. It's actually better than a bubbler because of the higher rate of circulation. But the trade off with a pump is that it consumes more power than a simple airpump.

Another thing you may want to consider are Bag Buddies (http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/product/productInfo.web?infoParam.mode=1&infoParam.itemKey=214411)

http://www.thatpetplace.com/images/presentation/P6742.jpg

They will act as a mild tranquilizer and help keep the bait from stressing out too much. These are often used in shipping live aquarium fish and may be found in many local aquarium stores.

[Big Worm]

sweet replies. Yes this is going to be a portable tank that I can take on the boat for keeping mainly mullet alive. I have been looking for a rounded "corner" tank but do not want to drop a fortune on one. Most Poly molded tanks are costly. I was thinking of using a cooler and a keep alive sytem difuser. I want to rig a switch to it as well so I can turn it on and off when I need it to run.

I am going to be putting it in a carolina skiff so I do not want a through hull or a recirculator. Too many hoses and do not want to drill. I like the way you all think and the stuff you are helping me with thus far though.

Maybe a smaller trash can would be the best bet here? Since it is round???

[bluerunner]

I have found that is it hard to keep finger mullet alive for any length of time.

we've kept them alive on the pier all day in 100 degree weather with just an aerator. A lid and ice helps a lot.

[Big Worm]

I have been up and down many sites on how to build ones online. But wanted to ask here (my fella addictives) how they would go about it. Need to find a cheap plastic container rounded if possible, and I think I will use the keep alive system. frozen bottles I was thinking of using to keep the water cool, but then the idea of the frozen drink block is good to use.

Live bait does rule, especially for reds off the little river inlet tip jetty.

[TreednNC]

I have been up and down many sites on how to build ones online. But wanted to ask here (my fella addictives) how they would go about it. Need to find a cheap plastic container rounded if possible, and I think I will use the keep alive system. frozen bottles I was thinking of using to keep the water cool, but then the idea of the frozen drink block is good to use.

Live bait does rule, especially for reds off the little river inlet tip jetty.

How many of those systems will keep threadfin shad alive? Finger mullet and mud minnows arent hard to keep alive, esp. mud minnows. Take advise from some of us landlocked striper fisherman that use threadfins ;)

[narfpoit]

How many of those systems will keep threadfin shad alive? Finger mullet and mud minnows arent hard to keep alive, esp. mud minnows. Take advise from some of us landlocked striper fisherman that use threadfins ;)

You got that right them things kill over if you look at them funny. But they must taste like candy cause everything likes to eat them. Anyway when you get your plans together for your 50 gallon drum conversion send them on. I got about half way into to making one when I scanvenged the parts to make a bait tank for my kayak, I think I will try and finish it though before the striper run in the roanoke.

[TreednNC]

Yeah i aint talkin just a dozen or so.....were talkin hmm 7-8 dozen depending on size...and no...dont handle them at all until ready to put on the hook.

[rattler]

barty b uses what i do...as for rounded corners, you can get poly sheets and curl them around the corners...the blue ice works better than ice as it doesn't put chlorine in the water...i really don't save that much bait anymore...too easy to get it as i need it...

[Big Worm]

Poly sheets now that I think I might do do the cooler. Where does one get those, and how does one attach them to the inside? Apoxy? With all this advice I am going ot have a nice little cooler livewell ;)

[rattler]

should be able to get poly at HomeDepot/Lowes...get the 1/8" or thicker and it will stay in olace without glue...also makes it easier to clean when you can take them out...