Thread: Aerators -- Does ANYBODY make a good one?

Full disclosure: I have not fished with minnows in years. However, I used to keep tropical fish, and the aerators/filters I used were excellent. Also, they were designed to keep fish much more valuable than minnows alive.

Is there a pet shop near you? Surely they would have something better than what you're currently using.

This is what I have been using and it is several years old now. It has 2 air outlets so you can place one in your livewell and one in your minnow bucket or if you need 2 minnow buckets you have one for each. It is a 12 volt so it works off your boat battery so you don't have to buy small batteries and if you want to use it as portable you can also run it off your car(truck) battery. It really puts out the aeration good also. Well it has worked very good for me so far. this is what it looks like you may want to check them out they sell them at most Walmarts and a lot of other retailers and Grizzly Jig also go online you never know when you may find a deal on them.

https://www.amazon.com/B15-Marine-Me.../dp/B000EYWNVQ

I have the one Scrat posted mounted in my boat. Been there about 5 years. It quit last fall, pumping on one side. Called marine metals explained I wanted to buy replacement pump section. Gave them my address and next day had new pump Assy, and big round air stone in mail at no cost. I have one of the smaller battery units that I have found to be superior to all the others I have owned. And very quiet. True customer service unlike what I got with the 3 frabill's I threw in the trash.

Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Full disclosure: I have not fished with minnows in years. However, I used to keep tropical fish, and the aerators/filters I used were excellent. Also, they were designed to keep fish much more valuable than minnows alive.

Is there a pet shop near you? Surely they would have something better than what you're currently using.

I've used them at home, but they are AC and I need battery or 12V

Been using Marine Metal Power Bubbles, like scrat's post, for years and years. Never had a problem.

Keeping the diffuser stones changed increases the life of the pumps as well

Originally Posted by scrat

This is what I have been using and it is several years old now. It has 2 air outlets so you can place one in your livewell and one in your minnow bucket or if you need 2 minnow buckets you have one for each. It is a 12 volt so it works off your boat battery so you don't have to buy small batteries and if you want to use it as portable you can also run it off your car(truck) battery. It really puts out the aeration good also. Well it has worked very good for me so far. this is what it looks like you may want to check them out they sell them at most Walmarts and a lot of other retailers and Grizzly Jig also go online you never know when you may find a deal on them.

https://www.amazon.com/B15-Marine-Me.../dp/B000EYWNVQ

this or a aquarium pump on an inverter/

I've used a lot of the C D battery styles. Some last a year, some more than a year. Don't know the hours used.
This one has lasted 4 years. Marine Metal Products Bubble Box™ Air Pump | Academy
This one lasted 3 years. Marine Metal Products Quiet Bubbles™ Bubble Box™ Air Pump | Academy
I picked up 2 Laker bubblers at $13.95 for back ups. Laker Piston Pump Aerator AE1 Lot Of 2** | eBay