Posted by TVanderboom on February 26, 2003 at 14:38:35:
I have advanced my striper fishing prowess to the point of needing a bait tank that works, unfortunately my financial prowess does not measure up. I can't afford a $500 tank. What I would like to do is set my 1/2 chemical drum (25 - 30 gallons) up as best as I can to keep gizzards and blue backs alive when it gets hot. My plan is to install a 500 gph baitwell pump in the bottom of the tank - from there I would exit the tank through the side at the bottom, upsize the pvc to 2 1/2 or 3 dia. and stuff it with pillow stuffing and carbon - then reduce the pvc size back down to 1 inch or so and go back into the side of the tank at the top of the water level - from there, create a "t" with a portion of the water pressure to a spray bar and another portion exiting to create a current inside the tank - and wrap the whole thing with a water heater blanket. Does this sound like it would work out, or am I wasting my time? Any advise or improvement ideas would be very much appriciated. Will the spray bar give me any measure of aeration, or will it just damage and stress out my bait? Thanks for all help! TVanderboom