I've got 3 large (I think 15-20gal) round Gott coolers. They were thrown out because the spigots are busted. They're very well insulted, and I use a smaller one for minnows. It will keep minnows alive for 2-3 days with a bubbler.
I want to convert one of the large ones to an aerated bait tank for shad. Anyone done something similar? Design suggestions? Any specifics problems to avoid?
Any input would be appreciated, especially pics. Thanks!

A couple of the main reasons shad die quickly is because they put off so much ammonia and use oxygen quickly, not to mention stress, suntan lotion is. My gray line tank has several filter layers and a charcoal layer. Probably need to devise some sort of filtration system to work with your cooler. You're on the right path with the round cooler. Somebody here has most likely made one and will chime in.

I rigged up a 10 gal got cooler with a pump in the bottom that had a round filter on it. It would keep 50-75 shod a live for 6-8 hours. Used some salt and bait saver. Fix the lid so it can stay open some to let ammonia gas escape. If you want something that will keep them alive longer you will need to get a bait tank with a filter system. You have to have some way to keep the shad scales out of the water. The scales get in their gills and kill them. When you catch shad be sure to always put them is a separate big bucket before putting them in your tank. Only leave them a minute or 2. It cost about $70 to rig mine.

I just used a blue 55 gallon plastic drum cut down to about 20 gallons and cut a hole in the side and installed an aerator pump. the pump pulls out of the bottom and returns to the top of the drum where it goes into a contraption that was made to clean a paint roller. I fill it with fiberfill ( pillow stuffing). I was amazed at how well it works. We kept shad alive for over 12 hours. Usually more like 16-18 hours at Cedar Creek in late June. Not to bad for something I have about $50 in at most. Here's the roller cleaner I used.

fishanhunt, can you show a picture of all this assembled? Also, where did you get the cleaner? Thanks.

I will but it will probably be tomorrow before I can get them posted. I'm at work right now and it will be late before I get home.

Don't be expecting something professional and pretty !!! It's a redneck baittank for sure

I'm all about redneck..........as long as it keeps finicky shad alive! Thanks.

When i put water in it, i leave about 3 or 4 inches of room before the bottom of the filter so the water can fall from the filter to the tank and splash a little to help with oxygenation. Also add some salt to help out.

So which way does the water pump? I assume you put the Polly fill in the canister?

Water pumps from the bottom up to the folter case which is packed with the polyfill and falls back into the tank.

I posted earlier that I left 3-4 inches of space between the water and the filter case but my fishing partner that helped build it said that we filled the tank up almost full last time and it worked the better. I don't remember, I have slept since then.

Heck, that's not a bad looking bait tank at all. What kind of aerator are you using? Also, what is that between the bottom of the filter and aerator? Thanks for the idea!

I'm using an Atwood Tsunami 800 aerator and that's a LED livewell light that we tied into the aerator power cord.

The LED was a good idea too. Alright, I think I'm good to go. Thx again.

http://keepalive.net/portable.htm
One of these and your cooler are all you need. Simple and quick.