Local Bass Tank Setup?!?!?!?

[Derpeder]

Okay I figured this would be the best spot to ask my questions and or be redirected to where I can get them answered.

Here's what I'm thinking. My brother in law just bought a house on a lake. What we want to do is get a 300 gallon tank and pump water directly into the tank and then have a drain system on the other side that drains back into the lake. I figure if I can cycle the water through enough it will keep the water the right temperature during the right season to keep the fish alive. We want to keep it outside and possibly build a shelter for weather and shade from the sun. We want to keep bass and cropy and sunfish and possibly trout in the tank.

the set up would be pump water into the tank drain it on the otherside back into the lake. I figure we'll need to vacuum the substrate once every few weeks. But I don't think we'ed need a heater or chiller cause its cycling the correct temp water from the lake. We wouldn't need a filter either for the same reasons. as long as all the water is flowing then we'd be good. A couple of powerheads should help that.

Questions: Would this work? What am I missing? Would it freeze in the winter? (we could use a heater in winter if that is the case. We live in seattle so it doesn't get to cold.) Would the algae get way out of control in the summer?

Let me know. Or Direct me somewhere I can get these questions answered.

 

[MasterP]

I don't know much about how the setup would work but i would check the laws and restrictions on taking fish fom the lake. Sound like a cool idea though.

 

[Loko17]

Sounds good to me. But if you're gonna get a 300 gallon tank why not get like an oscar or something?

 

[spAcE mOnkEy]

Sounds like an awsome idea. How long do you want to keep the bass for? Would be cool during the summer to have it set up, then release them before winter. I think it would freeze during the winter, maybe crack the tank. It would be cool to keep your biggest catches in there, than release the smaller ones. If you went indoor, you could keep them year round. If you have a constant flow of lake water going in and out of the tank, you could keep them in there for life probably, where do you live?

 

[Tolak]

Sounds like it would work fine in the more temperate months. Get a drilled tank, and use the lake as your sump. I'm surprised more bait & tackle shops that are situated on a lake don't think of this, what a selling point.

 

[nmonks]

The problem is fouling. After a few months, algae, freshwater sponges, bivalve molluscs (e.g., the infamous zebra mussels), and a variety of other sessile organisms will block the pipes. Water utility companies and others who pump in water from lakes and rivers periodically send divers down (or whatever) to clean the intakes. Zebra mussles grow faster than anything else, which is why they are hated by civil engineers who design and maintain these kinds of systems.

Cheers,

Neale

I'm surprised more bait & tackle shops that are situated on a lake don't think of this, what a selling point.

 

[Tolak]

Good point. I'm sure the maintenance is going to be a bit different from a standard sump or other filtration. I'm thinking this would be a learn as you go deal, you would need a really coarse pre-filter on the pump in the lake.

Zebra mussels are a big problem with the water intakes here, which are situated about a half mile out in Lake Michigan.

 

[Derpeder]

All very good points thank you.

masterP - As long as you have a fishing license to catch them then we're all good to keep them. Better to keep them alive in a tank then dead in a freezer I suppose. Anyway I think we're good there. GREAT question....thank you.

Loko17 - Both my brother and I LOVE bass fishing so we'd love to try to raise them and like some of the others have suggested release them back into the lake once winter hits or they get to big.

Space Monkey - The temp thing is exactly like I was thinking. I'm not sure how it would handle in the winter. May be something I'd just have to learn. See thats what we are thinking. Keep our catch in there and see if we can even grow them to were they are 6-10 pounds and release them back in the lake and then next season have a chance to catch a 8-10 pounder. SWEET!!!!! Plus we could test certain baits (withOUT hooks for sure) and see how the bass respond to them. And it would be AWESOME to have bass in a HUGE fish tank.

Tolak - Exactly the Idea. Using the Lake as a SUMP. Its pretty much just the lake off to the side. The Bass should thrive as long as we give them a good diet. But we have the lake right there for that as well.

nmonks and Tolak- Very good point. Something I need to investigate more in depth. A couple of thoughts. Most people around the lake use the lake for watering their lawn. (legal on this lake) They pump the water from the lake through there sprinkler system. Would they have the same concerns, and what if the pipes were underground would you also have the same concern. Also this is an extremely clean lake. It is spring fed which means the source is not contaminated from the surface becasue the source is underground. I've investigated some of the sprinkler systems and they have pretty slick filter deals on the end. I'd assume its for this reason.

Well I will definately keep you all informed if this is something we move forward on. We found a tank on Craigs List and we may purchase it.

I guess like Tolak said it will be a learn as you go type deal. Trial and error.

Thanks for all your input. anymore input is greatly appreciated.