Bait keeping 101

[arkansasbowhunter]

Once your tank is up an running and stabilized make sure to check your ph levels. They can and will drop with time. This is cause when the ammonia is broken down and the hydrogen ions are released into the water. To solve this depending on the ph you can change it slowly by adding 1/8 tbsp of baking soda. Caution the ph drops slowly so raise it slowly!!!

Keep your ph around 7 - 7.5 anything below that is acidic.

[jigflinger]

I haven't ever worried about the ph level with shiners. They aren't nearly as picky as tropicals. With my filter I have never had that problem.
BTW. You can get the air stones from The AquaCenter in Lonoke. I run two three inch stone from a 110 air bubbler in my 100gal rubbermaid tank.

[arkansasbowhunter]

Ok good to know thanks

[Red190]

Holy cow!! Exactly what I needed to know. At least I thought I wanted to know, little bit intimidated but wither I commit or not thanks a ton for the info. U may be the Sheldon Cooper of bait keeping.

[left handed]

What type of rock did you use? Can you post pictures of you pump?

[arkansasbowhunter]

As long as it pump enough water to turn your tank over 2-3 times in an hour.

[arkansasbowhunter]

Feeding my bait in the evening

[jigflinger]

What are you feeding them?

[arkansasbowhunter]

Fish food that is flake

[Clint]

A note for those looking at pumps. In-Tank pumps like the one a few replies up put a lot of heat in the tank. Some years ago I put a bilge pump in a live well hoping to aerate the well and the first time out I cooked a bunch of fish. I relocated the pump out of the well and had a working system.