making an eel tank

[MrHunters]

a potential commute change has made me start thinking about how im going to fish most efficiently in regards to travel.

so im going to try and keep eels alive for two weeks at a time.

will a feed drum, 1800gph pump and top be enough? will i need to filter the tap water or are eels "tough" enough to sustain for 2 weeks.

I'm looking for the simplest, cheapest means possible. I tend to over complicate things

This may be elementary for you guys but I've never tried so really have no idea how hard it is to keep them going.

[piemma]

Don't complicate the issue. Just use an old cooler and a cheap aquarium pump. I have done this for 20 years. You will need to change the water every few days if it gets real warm as the eels will sh*t up the water. Keep the cooler is a cool shadey spot. that's it!

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by piemma

Don't complicate the issue. Just use an old cooler and a cheap aquarium pump. I have done this for 20 years. You will need to change the water every few days if it gets real warm as the eels will sh*t up the water. Keep the cooler is a cool shadey spot. that's it!

Agreed 100%. No need to go high tech. I'll get some pics up of mine. Its an 86qt. igloo with an aquarium pump I purchased from netcraft. When the water fogs up, change it. I keep about 3 dozen at a time in mine. If I put more than 3 dozen in, I will change the water daily because it will get real nasty. Tap water is fine.

[Raven]

with an under gravel filter you can suck all the crud downwards
into gravel.........

and we used to have this cool filter called a system one

that thing was the balls... it was an extra maintenance type

but you'd slap that sucka on there and in ten minutes the water was
100% clear .... like sparkling drinking water...

friggan amazing to see... i still have it somewhere....
i think

i know this stuff cuz my ole lady worked
in a pet shop for a couple a years...

and we used to be big into fish tanks

[DZ]

I agree with Piemma and BackBeach. I keep mine alive in a 10 gallon container placed in the coolest part of my basement with a $10 aquarium pump. Change the water regulary and cull any eels for riggies that look like they're starting to expire - better to do this before they die as dead eels will get "fuzzy" and will funk up your tank. If you keep the water level high make sure you put a screen or cover over the container - they will jump out on occasion. One time an eel jumped out of my container into a batch of styrofoam packaging peanuts. My wife goes into the basement and there are styrofoam peanuts wiggleing across the floor - freaked her out. Anyway - keep the tank clean, the water cool, and the eels will live a long time. And DON'T feed them - food just funks up the water.

DZ

[t.orlando]

My very simple system in my condo.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by DZ

I agree with Piemma and BackBeach. I keep mine alive in a 10 gallon container placed in the coolest part of my basement with a $10 aquarium pump. Change the water regulary and cull any eels for riggies that look like they're starting to expire - better to do this before they die as dead eels will get "fuzzy" and will funk up your tank. If you keep the water level high make sure you put a screen or cover over the container - they will jump out on occasion. One time an eel jumped out of my container into a batch of styrofoam packaging peanuts. My wife goes into the basement and there are styrofoam peanuts wiggleing across the floor - freaked her out. Anyway - keep the tank clean, the water cool, and the eels will live a long time. And DON'T feed them - food just funks up the water.
DZ

Dennis, good point about the food that I forgot to mention.

[MrHunters]

t, is that just an aireator (sp) going into the two tanks?

[MrHunters]

slithering styrofoam would be an instant you tube classic!!

[cheferson]

Make sure whatever you use , it is easy to drain. I use a 55 gallon plasic barrel, with a big drain valve on the bottom. For airation a nd water movment i use a power head with a foam filter, an air stone, and another foam filter. the foam filters allow benefitial bacteria to grow, greatly helping the water quality.

[t.orlando]

Originally Posted by MrHunters

t, is that just an aireator (sp) going into the two tanks?

Yes, if I had more room I would make a real set-up. Like to always have a dozen in each bucket, but will cram 2 doz in each when fishings good( I change water daily)

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by t.orlando

Yes, if I had more room I would make a real set-up. Like to always have a dozen in each bucket, but will cram 2 doz in each when fishings good( I change water daily)

Wish the wife would let me do that in the apt.
She must be a saint T.O.

[Clogston29]

some good info here:

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...hlight=storage