Just purchased a 25 gallon sunshine grayline bait tank used it twice now both times shad end up dying. I�ve had 45 gallon grayline tank for 12 years with no problems. Last time only had about 30 bait and only lasted 2 hrs. Any suggestions on how to keep bait alive longer appreciated.

Make sure your pump is sucking air.

Yes it�s getting air

I am having the same problem with a smaller factory installed bait tank. The Shad only last about 3 hours. I refill the tank pretty often with fresh lake water. I also add salt tablets. I was thinking it could be the temp? Suggestions?

Fill your tank with Tap or well water. Put some aquarium starter chlorine eliminator in it. Shad alive, salt and maybe some ice occasionally along with more aquarium starter. Clean the filter more often also. Did you happen to have a gizzard shad in there with some threadfins?

The surface temps are up so add some frozen water bottles or ice.

water temp

Water conditioning and temp are the biggest contributors to success with shad. I always use tap water treated with chlorine removing liquids like you would use for your aquarium. You can find that stuff at Walmart or Petco. Then dump a half a container of non iodized salt and the water is good to go. Finally have a couple of frozen gallon sized milk jugs in a cooler. Put one in right after you transfer your bait from your scaling bucket and into the big tank. Another when that one thawed completely. Take the old one out. The scaling bucket is also key. When you catch them, dump the shad directly into a five gallon bucket filled with water. Net them out and dump in the big tank after about five min. I hope that helps. Remember it�s all about temp and water condition.

I have been using the slimline tank 8-10 hrs a day. Fishing in 100� heat no issues using lake water and 16oz of pool salt. Shad still very active at the end of the day

Gizzard shad and I have a pump on a hose to fill with maybe 8� below surface using 1/2 cup salt. I will try more salt and ice next time

I also use a purge bucket as Bassthumb suggested along with foam off when needed. But I have been very pleased and surprised how well this tank works in the summer. This has been my first summer to use live bait on a regular basis. I am ready for the artificial bite to pick back up

Something that will help tremendously is pump pure oxygen into the tank through a stone. That will cool the water 5-10 degrees. Add ice and chemicals as mentioned above. Also if you can get your tank water 10-15ft down. You will start with cooler water. Don't crowd the tank.

Some good info and tips in this video. I�ve adopted a few of these techniques and keep shad alive all day in the summer.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SWjsmfzX2Jg

Thanks for the suggestions

I have a 17 gal tank and can kep shad all night. here's he trick:

Shad keeper

Use frozen plastic bottles of water and bring that water temp way way down....