Live Bait Tanks

[vacabill]

Want to build my own live bait tank, have 20 gallon round tank. It will be on the swim platform. I've searched this forum for bait tanks, but found nothing. Googled for it, and found different ways to do it. Some have the pump inside the tank, others have it mounted on the transom. Which is best? Anyone have or know where I can get plans for one. The attachement shows how I was going to do it.
Just found this site, on bait tanks, now if i can just figure how to seal the inflow pipe on the outside and still be able to get a circulation on the inside. If I wasn't so cheap I'd buy one.
http://www.centerconsoleangler.com/sept07/reeltalk.php

 

[Grits]

Re: Live Bait Tanks

vacabill

Check out this forum, www.catfish1.com . Shad is a common bait for catching catfish and it is a very difficult fish to keep alive. I will be adding a good bait tank to my Key West and I am facing the same problems you are.

One thing I have been told, filter the water that goes into the tank if you are pumping from outside the boat.

Seeing a small oil slick around the foot of my motor got my attention. The intake for my live well is inches from the foot of the motor. Oil in a live well or a bait tank cannot be a good thing.

There are several threads in the above mentioned forum. You may have to join to be able to retrieve all the info. If you are ask who referred you, my handle there is the same as here, Grits or my name, Roger Gravis.

Good luck.

Grits

 

[sdsaw]

Re: Live Bait Tanks

I'm happy using the transom mount pumps.
No issues of losing prime when backing down and inexpensive to replace the pump(Rule 500 gph bilge pump) and low amp draw,
500 gph should be plenty of water for a 20 gal. tank.
I use a 500 gph pump for a 30 gal. trash can bait tank.
The only variable would be if you have a long distance to pump the water "up" to the tank (head pressure) then you may need a stronger pump.

 

[vacabill]

Re: Live Bait Tanks

Thanks SDSAW, I have a 25' searay,(1985), so the distance will be
approx. 3'. I will be using it primarily for anchovies when fishing SF bay and ocean. Would also try and use it for wash down.

 

[sdsaw]

Re: Live Bait Tanks

vacabill,
Try contacting this guy as to which pump you should go with. He should be able to answer any and all questions about bait systems. He may also have some bait tanks with blems at a discount price if you decide to purchase a ready made one.

I built my tanks using a 32 gal & 20 gal Rubbermade trash cans which works excellent for keeping sardine and anchovies alive. Not sure about strapping this type of tank to your swim step.
I've seen Davis boats that come factory rigged with plastic tanks on their swim steps. As far as these white plastic bait tanks, we have found that your bait stays alive much better if you paint the outside of the tank a dark color (black or blue). I know a guy that used vinyl boat striping instead of paint.
Any more questions let me know.

Scott

Edit: Just looked at the article on how to build your own tank. There's some good info there.
Be sure to use the upper drain during normal use and the lower drain to empty the tank
of water and definitely set up your inlet to circulate the water. As far as flow, more is
not better (you'll tire your bait if they have to fight too strong a current)
7-9 minutes to fill the tank should be good.



http://www.livebaitlarry.com/transom_pump.asp

http://www.davisboats.com/davisboats.htm

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Live Bait Tanks

I use a 50 gallon drum with a a rule 1100 gallon per hour pump off of the transom. Hooked up a 1" or1 1/8th inch hose from the pump to a brass out door water spicket 3" down from the top of the rim and drilled a 2" outlet hole about 10" down from the top of the rim on the opposit side.. Made my own transom plate to hold the pump. You also need a scoop so that when you are moving forward the scoop forces the water into the tank.

 

[Grits]

Re: Live Bait Tanks

Fly Rod

What kind of boat did you mount this on?

Grits

 

[vacabill]

Re: Live Bait Tanks

Fly Rod,,that must be one monstrous boat, for a 50 gal tank,thats a lot of bait. Mine is a 1985 25' sea ray, The barrel I will be using is 1" thick , I think polypropelene, and it happens to be blue. After cutting it down to size for 20 gal. the empty weight is 10 lbs. I've got until May to figure it out. thats when live bait fishing starts here in the San Francisco bay area. SDsaw, contact who? livebaitlarry?

 

[sdsaw]

Re: Live Bait Tanks

Yes, Livebait Larry.
He's been around for years and has a lot of experience on bait systems.
Be sure to let him know how high you need to pump the water.
Most of the major boating stores carry that same bait pump set up.

Be sure to put some type of lid on the top of your tank, preferably with a reverse lip so you don't lose your bait while running around.

Some kind of light if it's dark will help the bait from bumping into the sides.
A clear plexi lid may be good enough.

 

[sdsaw]

Re: Live Bait Tanks

Try to check out an Aquaworld tank which gave me the basic idea.
Here's how I put my tank together. You won't be able to find the exact PVC fittings (modified existing fittings at work, machine shop) but you should be able to round something up to work.
1 1/2 dia for drain and 3/4 for inlet.
A single drain at the desired level should be adequate. Just be sure to drill plenty of holes for drainage (1/4 dia)
Use silicone when assembling fittings. All fittings that pass through tank wall are threaded.
You may want to add a drain valve near the bottom to empty the water.
Good luck, any more questions just ask.

 

[vacabill]

Re: Live Bait Tanks

Thats basically how I will be doing it, will call larry this week, couple questions, see the attachment

 

[sdsaw]

Re: Live Bait Tanks

vacabill,
7/32" holes on inlet tube 1/2" apart, tube is around 7" long. If you notice I've drilled an 1/8" hole in the elbow to indicate that the pump is working when the water level is up.

Single drain at top is adequate. I connected the upper & lower drain to help drain off any scales that sink to the bottom, but had tanks in the past that worked fine with just a top drain. Drill plenty of holes in the drain if you are only going to use a top drain only.

What program do you use to add text to the picture?

 

[vacabill]

Re: Live Bait Tanks

I used microsoft publisher to do that, I noticed the hole in the elbow. Thanks, I think I will start on it, next week, You've been very helpful.

 

[sdsaw]

Re: Live Bait Tanks

For anyone that might want build you own tank, I found a DIY kit for the drain and inlet. I recommend that you make a drop down pipe for the inlet to make the water flow in a circular pattern.

Here's the kit:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...L=true&storeNum=19&subdeptNum=null&classNum=0

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Live Bait Tanks

I have a 26 foot Dusky with a 225 HP does 37 knots

Actually the barrel is a 55gal. plastic drum. mine looks a little like the picture, a little less PVC.

And you do want a barrel with a lid, measure approx. 1 1/2" in from the rim of barrel with magic marker and use a jigsaw or whatever and cut out the cover. That 1 1/2" lip will keep the water from splashing all over the deck and you. An 1100 gal. pump is a must to keep 30 baits alive.

This year I added a outlet valve at the bottom to drain the barrel, use to bail the bait tank out with a 5 gal. bucket. Getting to old for that.