BIOLOGICAL
FILTERING SYSTEM EXPLANATION
The MINNOW MASTER Live Bait System
is a unique design in a BIOLOGICAL filtering system, that utilizes a bacteria which
thrives on ammonia to eliminate the ammonia from the water. Ammonia is produced naturally
by the minnows.
Ammonia is released into the water
through the gills by the "breathing" action of the minnows. Oxygen is taken from
the water and nitrogen is released into the water, which instantly becomes ammonia when it
contacts the water. This is similar to the way we take oxygen from the air and release
carbon dioxide into the air. Ammonia is also produced by the waste from the minnows,
however this occurs only when it has accumulated over a longer period and begins to
deteriorate. Some water sources have small amounts of ammonia present either through water
treatment or accumulation in the aquifer. Excessive ammonia accumulation in the water is
the single biggest hazard to the well being of the captive minnows.
The effect ammonia will have on
minnows depends largely on the pH level in the water and to a lesser degree the
temperature of the water. When pH levels are 6.5 and the water temperature is at 45
degrees, minnows will tolerate ammonia levels in the range of 5-6 parts per million. As
the pH levels in the water range higher, the lower the ammonia levels must be. Warmer
water temperatures and/or inadequate aeration will have a significant additional negative
effect.
The MINNOW MASTER Live Bait System
will have a batch of activated bacteria introduced into the filtering system, when the
system is installed and running on site after minnows have been added. A running in period
is desired to give the bacteria time to acclimatize to the colder temperature and
establish colonies on the filtering media before activating the UV Light. During this run
in period, usually after four or five days of operation with minnows in the tanks, the
ammonia level will rise to point where it may be necessary to dilute it by draining off
water and replacing it with fresh water. This procedure will help the colonized bacteria
overpower the ammonia and might however, be required on two or more occasions.
The UV LIGHT is not plugged in on
installation and should not be plugged in until the ammonia count is less than 2 PPM (for
about four weeks), to the give the floating bacteria a chance to colonize on the filtering
media. All bacteria, good and bad, floating freely in the water are destroyed by the UV
LIGHT when it is in operation and therefore, must be left unplugged for this period.
Bacteria will survive only six hours
without ammonia to feed on. Therefore, if you decide to let the unit run without minnows
during a slow season; (a) ammonia can be added to keep the bacteria alive (call for
information); or (b) the start up procedure can be repeated just before putting minnows
into the tank for the season and bacteria can again be added; or (c) the easiest and
probably the most economical, is to just keep a minimum quantity of minnows in the tank,
such as one half gallon of crappie minnows, during the slow periods.
Call 800-556-9267
or email us
for additional information!
For live bait information, visit
www.gollonbait.com
For Minnesota Fishing Information, visit
www.minnesotaangler.net
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