Minnow tank advice?

[CrappiePappy]

keep them outta the sun and on ice.
use aerator on the ones you open that day
open a new bag only when needed and bait should be good for a week

On the "on ice" comment .... DO NOT put the bagged minnows directly in contact with ice. Put a layer of cardboard between any ice & the bag. I say this because the ice "can" puncture the bag, and depending on how good your cooler is, may freeze the water in the bag .. either one of which could kill your minnows.
You might also consider putting a layer of plastic bags or something waterproof between the ice & cardboard, so that your cardboard doesn't get soggy and/or freeze.

And if you have a refrigerator at your location, you can keep the bagged minnows in it for several days w/o opening the bag. Otherwise I'd keep them (bagged) in the cooler, on top of the cardboard that's over the ice, in the coolest & safest place possible.

Just BE SURE and bring the minnow water down (or up) to the lake water temp BEFORE (if) you put them in a minnow bucket (in the lake) .... or before putting them on your hook & dropping them into the lake. A sudden drastic temp change will shock the minnows, and they won't live long ... if they even survive the change.

... cp

[Blackdog40]

Lake water might not be a good idea. If you have the ability use tap water that has set out in open for at least a day, and add the minnow blue stuff. This will get rid of chlorine and have minimal bacteria that will effect minnows.

[Cray]

That's a good point I hadn't considered. I have an older igloo 52 quart cooler that I plan to convert. I don't need the thing air tight just so that it isn't open to slosh and have critters eat my minners.

Vent shouldn't be too problematic. I was just thinking to put holes in the lid to run the air lines through, the vent could be a nice easy "conduit" to run those through too.
I initially wanted to do the spray bar like the bait shops, but with the lid closed there would be no new oxygen. I figured the air pumps would bring new air into the cooler.

I'm excited to make this thing now. Add some ice, and a little fish food and water changes from the lake, sounds like the kind of party that I would go to.

Do not put ice directly in the water. It will kill them. That's the reason to use the frozen bottles. It does not drop water temp drastically. I put small frozen juice bottles in my minnow buckets before I leave the house summer and winter unless it is extremely cold. Plus I agree with Pappy, no need to feed minnows for such a short period. Just makes a mess and more cleaning. I keep anywhere from 2 to 6 lbs and only feed them about every 2 wks. On your hose just make the hole large enough it can vent around the hose and it will be fine. If you have raccoons around that place you might consider puttin a ratchet strap around cooler at night to keep them from getting lid open.

[stormcloud]

I have a 48 qt cooler that I put 15 dozen minnows in which usually last me about a week. I mounted a DC pump and a 110 on the side of the cooler. The DC pump to get them from where I buy them to the lake. I then hook it to the 110 pump and shut off the DC pump. I put in enough water at the bait-shop to cover the the air-reator stone. When I get to the lake I add about 10 gallons of treated water. I change about half the water every 2 to 3 days. You can tell when you open the lid that the water needs attention. There will be a strong smell of ammonia and the water will be murky. I don't feed them , I have no vents, and I have not lost any. One more thing, when you get in from fishing, dip the minnows out of your minnow bucket. Don't pour that water, minnows and all into your holding tank. It will be dirty and contain a lot of minnow crud.

[maker of things]

Man, did I ever come to the right place.

[midcarolina]

Building a cooler live well may be a worth while investment for future use............. but IMO in this case the simple thing is to grab a couple collapsable laundry hampers from dollar store zip tie a noodle around the tops, then when you get to lake let minners float in bag for a few then turn em loose in the floating live well.......

The bigger hampers work got as a fish holding station while you are there also.............