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Minnow aerator: How long to leave running
Jan 23, 2021 10:49:55   #
FS Digest
 
I recently bought an aerator and cooler for my minnows to save trips to the store between fishing. How long should I leave the aerator running while the minnows are in there? I have heard a lot of answers, from 15 minutes every 8 hours to constantly.

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by LeafCbear

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Jan 23, 2021 11:44:23   #
audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD
 
How long do you want the minnows to live? They will die without the aerator running unless you have the container "in the water" so they get Oxygen in the water they are in. I run mine all the time I have bait fish in the bucket. Bass Pro has an Aerator that uses one D Cell good for 8 hours, for about $10. The one I have works pretty good.

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Jan 24, 2021 08:43:51   #
Elmwood21 Loc: Iowa
 
I have minnows in my garage for 3 weeks no aerator or anything. I have changed water every week just dumped water out added snow let it melt garage not heated not freezing but cold so if you keep water cold but not freezing they will last. Iam going fishing today so this should be it trading ice for surf fishing next week.

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Jan 24, 2021 13:24:09   #
Arizona Tom Loc: Cottonwood,. Az
 
Check out U Tube. How to keep minnows alive..

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Jan 24, 2021 13:37:20   #
Rayz Loc: North West N.J. and South Hero Vt.
 
If keep them in a garage between trips you can buy a cheap electric aquarium pump and aerator stone and keep it plugged in. Wal-Mart sells them.

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Jan 24, 2021 14:43:30   #
nutz4fish Loc: Colchester, CT
 
I use two air stones and run continuously. Cool water helps hold dissolved oxygen, but if it is too cold, bait will get “shocked” soon after hitting the water after the cast if weather is hot. I use frozen well water in plastic bottles in case of a leak, I’m living with treated city water that will kill bait in a hurry. Good luck, trial & error will show what you need.
If possible and legal, use a bait ( minnow) trap.That will match what local fish are feeding on, and saves $$ at the bait shop..

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Jan 24, 2021 21:03:19   #
agatemaggot Loc: iowa
 
nutz4fish wrote:
I use two air stones and run continuously. Cool water helps hold dissolved oxygen, but if it is too cold, bait will get “shocked” soon after hitting the water after the cast if weather is hot. I use frozen well water in plastic bottles in case of a leak, I’m living with treated city water that will kill bait in a hurry. Good luck, trial & error will show what you need.
If possible and legal, use a bait ( minnow) trap.That will match what local fish are feeding on, and saves $$ at the bait shop..
I use two air stones and run continuously. Cool wa... (show quote)


Leave city water in an open bucket for 24 hours and the added chemicals will disappear and it can be used on your bait !

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Jan 24, 2021 21:19:24   #
hemihappy Loc: pawleys island s.c.
 
Answer is constantly (have some spare batteries) be sure and change water every 6 hours. The fish produce waste which makes the water toxic. A set of the two batteries in your aerator should last 8 hours. Nice if you can put the minnows in a styrofoam cooler instead of a plastic bucket. I use a large cooler from the big steak company that I got with my last order of steaks. If you buy me the steaks I'll let you keep the cooler.

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