Rigging Livewell to keep fish alive!!!

[Captain B.R.K]

I need to do some modifications to my livewell & want to keep the fish alive when I put them in my livewell.I am having a hard time doing that with my current set up.

I'd like to hear about ideas to use to solve this?

I'd like to hear where I could go to buy something?

(not interested buying over the internet- rather go to the store)

I have a tempress livewell that I just flip the switch and watch the well fill until I think it's full and then I flip the switch to be done. How do I keep the water in the fresh without having to remember to hit the switch every 15 minutes?!?

I was looking at installing The Magnum Pure Oxygen Livewell Keeper from by Aqua Innovations.

The help is a appreciated, thanks!

[PerchJerker]

I run my aereator and recirculator, both on timers, to always keep the water moving and provide oxygen. Let the overflow do its thing. But in the middle of summer in the heat of the day you'll be pumping in warm water since it comes from the surface, and that can kill fish and bait quickly. Also, the sun shining on a livewell can warm it up quickly.

I don't know how big/stable your boat is or how big your livewell is, but banging fish around in livewell, especially a small crowded one, will take a toll on them very quickly.

It's illegal to transport water in a livewell now. A lot of times if I'm keeping fish I'll just throw a couple bags of ice in the livewell - no water - and the fish go right on the ice. Works very well.

The product you're looking at will help with oxygen, but not with preventing the water from getting too warm. You might not be taking care of all your symptoms if you only go that route.

Good luck.

[18 inch Crappie]

My SmokerCraft came with a water recircular, you can buy them from a boat store, it just comes on every 10-15 min and moves the water around and puts air in it. Or just buy a timer and hook it to what you have now, you should have a over flow. The timer will kick on and put fresh water in at a set time. much cheaper then the Magnum Pure Oxygen.

[kslipsinker]

I have had numerous customers of mine say that the Aqua Innoavations is the real deal. One guy says the fish come out of the livewell in better shape than when they go in.

[Captain B.R.K]

The set-up I have is just your typical livewell with continuous water being pumped into the well until I hit the switch. NO timer, NO oxygenator.

I want water in the livewell for tournament fishing, so the fish HAVE to stay alive.

You guys think that oxygenator I mentioned about by Aqua Innovations is the real deal...worth the $99?? Then go with the timer as well??

[18 inch Crappie]

Put it this way, both will work I am sure. You will have to wire and do a little tinkering for both. One will set you back $106 with tax one will be about $20

Plus, if it is hot out just air will not keep the water cool, but putting new water in will keep it cool, clear and the slime from all the fish you will have in there.

[Dave]

Caption,

Someone has one of those AI oxygenators (new never used)for sale in the for sale forums for $75.

[Captain B.R.K]

Quote:

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Caption,

Someone has one of those AI oxygenators (new never used)for sale in the for sale forums for $75.

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Thanks- I'll take a look for it!

[Dave]

Caption What was I thinkin'....I gotta learn to proof my posts

[Surface Tension]

Brandon, not sure what you have for a water inlet you have. The T-bar types that spray are OK but I've found the nozzel types with an air pickup work very good. Instead of water just splashing the surface the nozzel injets air into the stream. Combine that with a timer and should be good to go.

[Guest]

I agree on putting a liveweill timer in there. The more fish you have in there, and the warmer the water is, the more oxygen they will need. The warmer it is, the more often you will want the pump to kick in. When I have a lot of fish in the livewell, I leave the recirculating pump running constantly, and hit the main switch once in a while to bring fresh water in.. which cools the water off also.

It might be difficult to install a recirc pump in a factory installed livewell.. Many boats the manufacturers case it in foam.

[Mark Christianson]

How long are you planning to keep fish in the well BRK?

Are you talking 8 hr tourneys or the 3 hour league nights?

If its pretty extreme out as far as temps, I dont bat an eye at leaving the aerator on constantly.

Smallie Hawgin and I fished in a tourney 2 summers ago that was just brutal as far as temps, and we had the well turning on every 15 minutes. We ended up losing a fish. We shoulda just left it going constantly. Hindsight.

If its brutal temps out, keeping that thing going constantly is a better option than letting the well cook between cycles. Just think how hot it gets in a closed tank in the deck of a boat with the sun beating down on it.

A timer is a good thing, but it's good in certain situations.

[Captain B.R.K]

A little bit of both scenerio's possibly, just not sure yet.

The set-up I have now, I was fishing league last year on a July night and had my 6 bass. Filled the tank up to the top and still had 2 bass dead by weigh in. I hate to say it, but it happened and I wasn't real happy about it!

Heck, on walleye opener I had 4 walleyes in the well and 2 ended up dying on me too!!

I've got to do something different with that well this spring.

[Surface Tension]

Filling it up isn't enough and recirculating the same water is ok in cold temps but not in hot weather.

Not familiar with your livewell but doesn't fill aerate the water, if not I'd be looking at a nossel that will.

[Captain B.R.K]

My tank does not have an aerator......so where do I find one of these and install it!??

Is an aerator the same as an oxygenator?