The aerator system is our own proprietary design (patent pending) that mixes air from outside of the tank with the water, producing millions of micro bubbles. These micro bubbles are absorbed into the water replacing the air that the bait has sucked out. Also, as the bubbles break the surface they release harmful gases that they have absorbed from the water.

The design was based on using a 500GPH pump because this size pump has a much lower amp draw than say a 700 or 800 GPH pump, which will result in longer battery life. The Creek Bank aerator does not build up a lot of back pressure on the pump, thus extending the pump life, and has an unrestricted smooth outflow into the main tank. Because the air mixes with the water right at the point of discharge, the air bubbles will stay smaller and not combine together into larger bubbles. Smaller bubbles stay suspended underwater longer thus allowing more oxygen to be absorbed into the water. Also, because the air is not mixed with the water at the pump impeller, you won’t get any pump surge which will extend the pump life.

The Creek Bank aerator was designed with some adjustability to the flow. The flow rate has been factory set to the maximum setting (see figure 1). The end of the nylon elbow is flush with the inside of the aerator allowing maximum water flow and air to the tank. As long as your bait are medium size and up, you shouldn't have a problem.

If your bait are on the small size, you may want to reduce the flow of water to the tank so they don't look like they are taking a ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl. By screwing the nylon fitting into the aerator further (see figure 2), it restricts the amount of water flow going through the aerator resulting in a reduced circular flow of water in the tank. NOTE: By reducing the water flow you will also be reducing the amount of air that is mixed with the water. Remember, the more water flowing through the aerator results in more air being mixed with the water. Do not screw the fitting closer than 1/8” to the top piece of the aerator. Closer than 1/8” could result in damage to the pump.

The aerator is located near the bottom of the tank and angled slightly downward. This is for a couple of reasons. By aiming it towards the bottom of the tank, this creates a circular flow in the tank that doesn't allow trash to collect in the middle on the bottom. Unless you have some heavy stuff in the tank such as sand, eventually everything should go into the filter. Secondly, by aiming down, as the air bubbles come out of the aerator they travel down before heading to the surface. This allows the bubbles to stay in the water a little longer giving them more time to be absorbed into the water.

Regardless of how hard you try, sooner or later a piece of debris will get stuck in the aerator causing it to produce less or no air at all. Water will still flow out but the amount of air will be reduced. To clean debris that has become lodged in the venturi section of the aerator, turn off the pump and using a little force, slide the top of the aerator to the middle of the tank (toward the return inlet). Remove any debris and slide the top piece back into place until you feel a little “click”. Turn the pump back on and the aerator should again be working properly. The air is supplied from outside the tank through a small opening in the air inlet fitting. Make sure when placing the tank in position you do not restrict the flow through the opening.

Also, notice that the return inlet in the tank is not flat. In the unlikely event that a bait dies and sinks to the bottom, and gets sucked up against the return inlet, because of the curved shape the bait will get pushed off by the flow in the tank and won't stop the flow.