Im just getting ready for the summer and decided its time for a real bait tank.This is the first year since my kids births that ill be full force trophy striper fishing since the 90s.I used the tank in those good old days, for trophy striper trips that could span 3 hrs duration from catching bait to hours getting them cooled down enough for the river conditions i was fishing.Last week I kept 14 shad alive in the back of my truck for a week using my tank and filter setup.Ive got alot more respect for professional bait tank builders now that mines complet and all the kinks are worked out. just wondering if any bodys got anything they would have done differently or any improvement ideas.My first idea was to feed the filter from the top and sift the contamaninates down through the filter to a awaiting pump that was A, pulling water from the tank through to filter then B creating mild 1 to 2mpg flow in the tank.It worked perfectly until the pump ran dry from air slowly escaping through 5 gallon bucket lid alowing important suction to escape .Then it hit me I needed two pumps.one to push the water in at bottom of filter so to alow gravity to hold most debries on bottom naturally and one to suck the water thruogh filter to get any thing left, then push clean water back to my baitfish.Plus I didnt have to prime my filter bucket anymore!Then i got lucky ,the 500gph pump sucking water out of tank to filter is slowed slightly by filter media creating a small starvation to 500gph pump in the top of filter container.Making tiny little air bubbles without the chance of going dry.It works perfectly . Its just slightly being starved!Plus a mild current shad hold in.
Here are some Pics.1st pic, is an overall look.2nd pic , feed line to filter.Then 3rd pic, return line.4th pic is filter bucket .Note return pump close to top.5th pic is filter media.Poly fibers .3 dollars at wal mart,enough for 3 five gallon bucket fulls.#6 pic is a netting, fibers go into to prevent stopping up impeller.






Complete with water baffles to prevnt too much water getting out.

Anything I should have done different?Thanks for any advise.Im going to box it in and insulate it next.maybey put some quick connects on for moving tank and filter bucket seperatly.

riverrat... nice tank. I dont see anything I could even begin to comment on in a negative manner as far as your design. The quick Disconnects seem like a good idea to facilitate portabilty/cleaning. If I ever get motivated to build one that elaborate I might hit you up for your Shad Tank Building 101 course.

The only thing I would add would either be a pump to aerate the water and if you could add a charcoal filter in it to take out impurities. Mine is in a 4 inch pipe so I just put some charcoal in panty hose but that wouldnt work with a 5 gallon bucket--well unless you get some big momma panty hose. Have you tested it yet? Wonder what kind of water flow you are getting?

too funny im not aware of a way to actually gage flow.It seems to be enough to get the shad ive kept alive for a week to "hang out" kinda in a lazy swim state but dont go anywhere.its also got aeration cause the one pump is being slightly starved and thus producing tiny air bubbles that permiate the water going back into the tank.

If you ned more bubbles try putting a peice of copper tubing with a 45 degree cut inside the return tube with a hose hooked to the top of it to suck air as the water passes by the tube.This is how the original Frisky filter was made ,works in my tank.

Thanks sassyman ill try that!I think i know what you are sayin bout the tubeing.

Nice home made tank..

Some ideas..
1)
Get a bigger bucket (say 7 gallon) or maybe get one from those pool chemicals, to use as a filter bucket. If you could get under your tank (in the middle) and install a drain (since debris in circular motion will settle in the middle) and have that empty into the bucket.It can be filtered and then pump the water from the bucket back into the tank (that way no scales or debris will go through the pump) you can also add frozen bottles, shad saver, and maybe charcoal to this bucket.

2)
Add bubble insulation (plastic bubble stuff available at Home Depot and Lowes) around the tank to help keep insulated.

Thanks stewart but im going to box it in and insulate it with expandable foam.then put quick connects on my lines to filter.I also use rock salt and sometimes coffee creamer to kill the bubbles.Thanks for suggestions though.