Dead Fish prevention

[puddle jumper]

I was reading the post on dead fish and it got me thinking, One, I dont know a lot about how to keep fish fresh in live wells, I know that there are some chemicals out there but are they bad for the fish,, What about water temp, ice?? If you well has a good water delivery system from the lake do you need this stuff, how about O2, bubblers, things like that???I know i had a lot of threadfin die in the live well earlyer this year because of the shape of my bait tank "squre installed one"??
and two, if I dont know, there probably are others out there as well ,,, could some of you edjucated folks share that info with us un-edjucated folk...
This is something i found in a search as well but im sure its not all...

http://keepalive.net/guide.htm

Thanks
Puddle...

 

[puddle jumper]

fizzing??? emoScratch emoScratch emoScratch
emoBang
puddle...

 

[Buoy-Master]

Theres been a ton of info on CFF about this but I'll try to sum it up in a few lines...

Air Bubble system : I need to add one but running the live well non stop and making sure it IS NOT above the spouts will generate oxygen.
Ice : I use 2 Liter bottles but start with 10 pounds in a bag first.
Water Temp: They say 10 degrees below what you see on your graph. 10-15 should be fine. (85 surface / 75 in the well or better)
Fizzing: Ive fizzed a few in the well only if they acted like they were struggling. Other than that, keep a close eye in them when releaseing. If thier belly's are swelled with air, fizz!
Chemicals : Catch and Release or Rejuvenate work fine for me. I've had no problems with either. Just a cap full.

 

[Dropshot]

Good reply Billy. I have a pro-air system in my boat and seems to work very well. Mine also adds cold water from the cooler into the livewell. I also add ice and Catch and Release.

 

[puddle jumper]

Thanks for the replies there guys, I know some of this has been visited before bit I was hoping to put it all together in one place to try to make a little more since to me,,, more specifically on what you guys use and dont use and what really works.. Hey Billy, If the live well is running all the time how will the chemicals do any good??also the ice,, wouldn't it just flush out the effect?? Which is better,, Puddle... When you read back post you don't have the opportunity to ask questions...

 

[Buoy-Master]

The Chemicals will stay in the well unless you leak water out.
I use frozen 2 liter bottles after the first cool down with a bag. Works great for me.

 

[flip1up]

Billy leaves the well on recirculate, not pumping water in from the lake. The pro air system has a small pump that delivers air bubbles into your well.

 

[Buoy-Master]

Exatly Karl, Guess I missed that in my post. Heres a cool link. Sometimes i think people dont understand the settings on a live well...

http://www.flow-rite.com/marine/system3.html?open_menu=1&sub_menu=1

 

[G.L. football]

This is a great link we add no chemicals no ice and havent lost a fish in a long time. Just remeber when you start to run switch to recirc and back to auto when you stop.but with five fish youll want to run both aeriators on auto.

 

[bigfish21]

HERES ANOTHER TRICK THAT I TRIED THAT SEEMS TO WORK GOOD ALSO ON HELPING KEEP THE HEAT DOWN IN YOUR LIVE WELLS. GO TO LOWES OR ANYWHERE THAT SALES BUILDING SUPPLIES AND BUY A SHEET OF THE STYROFOAM INSULATION. OPEN UP YOUR LIVE WELL LIDS AND YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THERES IS ABOUT AN INCH OF SPACE IN THE TOP OF THE LIDS. TAKE AND MEASURE THAT AND CUT A PIECE OF THE FOAM INSULATION AND STICK IT UP IN THERE. I ALWAYS PUT 2 PIECES TOGETHER AND THEY FIT JUST PERFECT. MAKE SURE AND CUT THEM SO THAT THEY WILL FIT TIGHT.. I WAS AMAZED AT HOW MUCH HEAT THAT IT BLOCKED OUT AND PLUS IT HELPS THE ICE YOU PUT IN YOUR LIVE WELLS LAST A LOT LONGER!!!

 

[Buoy-Master]

G.L. football - 8/12/2008 3:03 AM This is a great link we add no chemicals no ice and haven't lost a fish in a long time. Just remember when you start to run switch to recirc and back to auto when you stop.but with five fish youll want to run both aeriators on auto.

</p>

Are you switching because of leak down during running in the well? </p>

Stratos valves leak when on Recirculate and running down river. You can have the valves changed or plug it from outside. </p>

If runining the wells on auto, that will put warm lake water back into the well and screw up your temp your trying to maintain. Keeping the water cool, aeriators on non stop and adding some sort of pro air system should keep those fish good and healthy. </p>