A fish tank is a practically necessary thing, especially if you plan a long fishing trip. Keep fish caught outside the water for a long time. It is this problem that such a device as a cage will solve.
What is this device?
It is worth noting that the fish tank is used not only by amateur fishermen or ordinary fishermen, but also by athletes. The main purpose of this thing is to keep the caught fish alive for the entire period of fishing. As already, perhaps, it became clear - this is a kind of device that is constantly under water and is closed. Thus, it is possible to leave the fish in the water, in its habitat, but already in the nets. In addition, this makes it possible, for example, to release part of the catch intact if a larger catch was caught. This is a pretty important factor. To date, there are several varieties of such a device.
Types
Saddles for fish differ in quite a few parameters, because of which there are a large number of varieties. The main characteristics by which the classification is carried out are:
- cage shape;
- linear dimensions;
- material used for manufacturing;
- cell size
- number of sections.
Speaking in more detail, their form, for example, is of three types. It can be a circle, a rectangle or an elongated body. It is also worth noting that there is no clear definition of which of these three types will be better. Each of them shows itself perfectly in a suitable situation. However, the most popular among fishermen was precisely the circular cross-sectional sample. The diameter of such a fish tank starts from 40 cm. The length of this device is limited only by the number of rings or rectangular inserts. The distance between them is about 30 cm, and the length in this case is practically unlimited. Most often they stretch for several meters.
The rectangular cage is mainly chosen by athletes. It is highly stable in water, which is especially important in shallow water. The length is about 5 m, which affects the spaciousness inside the grid.
A metal fish tank has become the most popular. Their strength is much higher, as well as their service life. They are quite simple in their maintenance, since mucus, silt and scales are easily removed from the metal wall. You can use a cage of this type when catching any type of fish.
What you need to make the fixture
In order to make a fish tank with your own hands, you will need a grid with small or large cells. It all depends on what kind of fish you plan to catch. Nylon thread, as well as metal or rectangular rings for the construction of individual sections.
Before proceeding with the assembly itself, you need to decide on a number of questions. It is important to decide what kind of fish it will be used for, whether it will be sporting or the usual type, how to increase its strength if large fish are caught. In addition, the choice of cells by the grid is very important, because if they are too small and the fish is large, then most likely it will suffocate. Small fish, of course, simply run away through too large cells.
How to make a fish tank with your own hands?
First you need to take care of the cage frame, which will use flexible rings. For this, metal cables with a polymer braid are suitable. In the right places, they are passed through the mesh cells so that a ring can be made from them. Another very important point is that you need to know how to save fish in the cage. It is necessary to find out before proceeding with the assembly, since the design will depend on this.
To be sure that the rings will not bloom during fishing, they are fastened with a nylon thread or baled. It is important to add that the number of rings is chosen not only on the basis of personal preferences, but from the total length and width of the fish tank. Do-it-yourself is going to another important part, which is called the base of the cage. You need to start this stage when the grid and rings are ready. The base is the largest circle in diameter. It will be located at the very edge. After it is braided with a grid, you can proceed to insert the remaining rings.
It is very important to note that the last section should be tightly tightened with kapron thread or any other material that can withstand the pressure of water and fish, and at the same time it will not disperse, otherwise the whole catch will float away. In fact, to understand the question of how to make a fish tank is quite simple, it is much more difficult to assemble the structure correctly, and therefore you should start with small-sized devices.
Zadok out of the bag
If you do not want to work with the grid, rings, and the like, or you can’t, you can try another option. To do this, you need a mesh nylon bag, a metal wire and a nylon cord. The manufacturing process is quite simple:
- The cells in the bag should be 4-6 mm. It is important to check its integrity and the absence of gusts or holes. The manufacturing time depends on the quality of the material, and then you can even use a stainless metal mesh.
- Several rings with a diameter of 30-40 cm are made of wire. Less than three should not be done. If you need a rectangular type of cage, then the parameters will be 40 * 60 cm.
- After that, every 30-40 cm, rings or rectangles are passed through the bag and attached to it with a thread. The spaces between the rings should be the same.
- The neck, which will be the entrance, should be with a handle and a tie from the same thread. This device will be in the role of the door. When the handle is tightened, the passage closes. When the handle is released, it opens and exit the bag.
Gardens for growing fish
It is worth noting that cages can be used not only during fishing, as a temporary storage, but also as a place for growing fish. The cost of such structures will depend on the size and materials of which they are made. Quite often, prices are too high, and therefore you can also assemble such devices yourself. The fish tank can be made from a crate that is kept afloat, a reservoir made of plastic or metal can be used. Such structures are most often installed near bridges. Another way to equip a crate with your own hands is a grid, which is stretched between piles installed at the bottom of a reservoir, lake, etc.
Self assembly
Today, the third option is the most popular - a mesh fish tank. It is worth noting that there is nothing particularly complicated about this. Piles are installed at the bottom, a mesh is stretched between them. The cell size should be small, as the newborn fish will be quite small. It is also worth noting that this option is suitable if the number of live fish is small. If the farm is quite large, with a large number of fish, then it is worth installing a full-fledged metal structure, between which pontoons or bridges will be located. It is very important to remember that the arrangement of the farm with the help of a cage should not violate the ecosystem of the habitat, since the fish should be in conditions as close as possible to real ones.
Using a Homemade Crate
When the device is ready, it is unlikely that anyone will want to assemble it again if it breaks. To avoid this, you need to follow a few simple rules. Lowering the fish into the cage should be slow and smooth. The distance between the person and the catch should be as small as possible. It is worth noting that you cannot throw a net with fish into the water, it must be gently lowered until the entire cage is immersed in water. If there is a need to release a certain amount of catch, then you do not need to remove the entire net from the water. It will be enough to raise the neck and open it. The fish itself will find a way out. The lower part must always be in the water. Following a simple rule - do not harm the fish, no damage will be caused to the device.