How to: Building an aerated livewell for your house or boat

[DarkSkies]

This is mostly for guys who have vehicles or boats. I decided to set this thread up separately because the other thread deals with portable livewells or bait tanks.

Feel free to post up and suggestions or what has worked for you.

[DarkSkies]

[DarkSkies]

A bait tank is a tank that is used when fishing in a boat. This tank is useful for effectual maintenance of bait like minnows and herring.
Instructions

There are many tanks available, which vary in size, and can be used to make a bait tank. A cooler, barrel or a tank can be chosen according to one’s budget. The thing to be kept in mind is that the tank must be round in shape to avert the possibility of the bait accumulating in corners and getting damaged with a red nose.

An insulator cooler can be used to maintain a stable temperature for a longer duration. To make a small bait tank, position a bilge pump a bit below half the length of the cooler. Attach it with the help of a hole drilled in the cooler, by passing a wire through it and coating it with silicon. The leads of the wire should be fixed to the battery with the help of clips.

The bilge pump is used for the circulation of water. You should make sure that the water flows at a speed that is not harmful for the bait. A fast flow will tire out the bait. You should aim for an easy, circular, steady, gentle flow. After the proper flow of water is achieved, the bait is put in water and it breathes in the oxygen from the water that flows around their gills. This is simpler, and works better than aerators as well as oxygen pumping. Also, remember to change the water if you notice any dirt or foam on the surface of the water.

A bait tank is also used in large boats. The barrel that is to be used in this case should be at least 15 gallons. It should be properly cleaned. The water filling tube should be of vinyl flex, and is taken to transom. It is linked to a hull pump of a minimum of 600gph that contains a filter/screen to avoid any kind of trash from entering the pump. This filter helps in removing toxic organic matter, and in preserving clean germ-free water. The ammonia that increases stress and destroys the bait is also removed with the use of a filter. Chances of debris and scales being present in your bait tank will be much reduced with the use of a screen or filter.

The pump can be started when the boat is slow trolling or anchored. The boat will not lift up water when it is moving at a high speed. One can also fix a bilge pump along with tubing of 4-5 ft. This is done to empty and refill the tank. This reduces the task of removing water from the tank personally.

The various connections of wires and fittings depend on their availability and on the design of the boat. These should be selected keeping in mind the weight of the boat. A top cover is also used for the tank. All this together makes a good bait tank.


http://monsterguide.net/how-to-build-a-bait-tank

[DarkSkies]

Some helpful links:

Plumbing for the livewell
http://www.thefind.com/sports/info-bait-tank-plumbing


An eel tank that I have for bait at my house, can be used for eels or any other bait:

http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...ead.php?t=1424

[clamchucker]

Very nice tutorial Dark. Remember that if you are going to keep herring in there the tank must be round. The same goes for fresh water herring you get in the tackle shops as well.

[jigfreak]

Let the water sit for awhile too before you put the fish in. It's also best if you have well water, they seem to stay alive longer that way.