Livebait tank
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: The Briny Bar
Forum Description: The place for general chat on saltwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=91516
Printed Date: 29 Jun 2026 at 2:14am
Topic: Livebait tank
Posted By: frenchay
Subject: Livebait tank
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2013 at 9:17pm
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Ideas on the best way to set up a livie tank on a 5.5 ramco dominator? Tossing up between a thru hull pump or mounting a bilge on the transom (do these wear out?), and am unsure of the best way to use a venturi system. Really need it to supply water both when driving and when stationary and want to keep alot of maccies (40-50) or a couple of kahawai alive. If it could support a tuna tube in future all the better. Was thinking of using a small drum with a perspex lid for the setup. Thanks, Frenchy
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Replies:
Posted By: Lethal
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2013 at 10:12pm
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venturi for when moving, pump for when still... it can be set up so it all runs automatically, but that needs a small box attached to the transom, the box acts as a pick-up the pump is setup with a float switch which turns it off when the boat is up and running and the venturi takes over.... best to keep your fittings and tank outside the boat unless you have a specially built one which is not going to over flow and sink your boat... good luck Frenchy they are a great add-on for fishing... ------------- Thanks for everything you did for us Eric. may you rest in peace, You were one of the real legends of NZ recreational fishing |
Posted By: ycha223
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2013 at 12:36am
| anyone find a mini air-pump useful for keeping live baits alive in the tank? I use a mini air pump runs on two AAAA batteries |
Posted By: Lethal
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2013 at 3:10am
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Andy, aerators are only good if you can change the water as well regular, fish in a livebait tank are continually urinating as they are scared senseless, this in turn will kill your livies over time.... ------------- Thanks for everything you did for us Eric. may you rest in peace, You were one of the real legends of NZ recreational fishing |
Posted By: ycha223
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2013 at 4:46am
| ah i see. no doubts the yellow tails that we caught dies so quickly |
Posted By: Jiggy Jig
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2013 at 8:35am
Hey Lethal, who's the best person to talk to about retro fitting one of these auto boxes/float switches to a livebait set up? Cheers JJ  ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> 
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Lethal wrote:Posted By: Blue Asparagus
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2013 at 10:41am
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there are many ideas out there and I expect most work, the venturie would be one of the better ones when traveling. we would get a piece of pipe plastic condute or water pipe about 20mm diameter, an angle of about 45* was cut on the bottom we attached it to the boat with U clamps/clips now this was not stuck fast, this because we were able to move it above the bottom of the hull if we did not want water, remember the weight factor when you fill a bait tank and to be fair more is better if you want a few in there, anyways because back then we were on smaller boats with small batteries etc etc we would if stationary chuck in a bucket of fresh water just to freshen up, oh the venturie pipe must go to the height you want you water to be in your tank as it works as a syphone as well. personally and I am about to do this is I will put one below the swim step, it will be fitted to the step not the hull, this is the way to go a hassle to put on but with a tinny dam easy and there are plenty of boat builders out there who would do it for you and even have them made up for you. water flow and aieration is the key and remember surface area is a good idea ------------- Ultimate GAME Fishing Adventures. Northland |
Posted By: Tonto2
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2013 at 3:49pm
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Have a look here just doing the same thing and asked the question http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/livebait-tank-setup-help-plz_topic91379.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/livebait-tank-setup-help-plz_topic91379.html ------------- slowly going where everyone else has already been |
Posted By: AlexFyssher
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2013 at 11:50am
We have our pump (just a big bilge pump) set up in a small box at waterline on the transom. With a small alloy pipe welded to the bottom facing forwards poking just under the hull. Keeps the box full of water when travelling so the pump will work at any speed. Works just as well at 20knts as when we are anchored. The pump runs direct to the tuna tubes the a pipe runs from the tubes into the livie tank. So 1 pump does both. Macca's in the tank and Kahawai in the tubes. Works mint 
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Posted By: frenchay
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2013 at 12:02pm
| Cheers for the replies guys. AlexFyssher I like the sound of that system, would you please be able to post pics of that set up if possible? |
Posted By: AlexFyssher
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2013 at 1:04pm
Boats in the Coro and don't have photo's on hand. Next time im down there (next couple weeks) ill tak some.
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Posted By: Blue Asparagus
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2013 at 1:12pm
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yeah mate if I cant get a tank fitted below the swim step I will git one beside the tuna tubes and use the over flow to fill the tank ------------- Ultimate GAME Fishing Adventures. Northland |
Posted By: AlexFyssher
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2013 at 1:27pm
I gather you have seen a set up like this before? We just have 2 tall fish bins on the duck board that double as livie tanks and just filled by the overflow from the tubes. Plenty of water comes out the overflows....
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Posted By: Blue Asparagus
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2013 at 1:32pm
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yeah mate many moons ago before the Rule bait tank pumps came along I had a similar set up, the new boat has tubes fitted but I will put a skin fitting on one to run a hose direct if I can fit one under the step ------------- Ultimate GAME Fishing Adventures. Northland |
Posted By: AlexFyssher
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2013 at 1:39pm
Those Rule pumps are expenny so this is certainly a more economical way of setting up. Whats the new boat?
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Posted By: frenchay
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2013 at 1:47pm
| Cheers, what bilge are you running for the two tubes? |
Posted By: AlexFyssher
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2013 at 2:00pm
Its an old one that shat itself recently. was about 2500 - 3000 GPH (can't read it as its old as). But will replace with one 3000GPH +. Can't have too much water running through
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Posted By: campbellc
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2013 at 4:29pm
Did you find the old bilge pump kept the skippies alive . Gunna make some tubes up over winter and was just gunna run a 3000-4000lph bilge pump on them |
Posted By: Structfab
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2013 at 6:53pm
whats the consensus on intake filters should I be installing one to a 500gph livewell pump, or not really needed?
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Posted By: krow
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2013 at 7:50pm
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40-50 mac's that's a lot of water and extra weight out the back on a small boat Frenchay. I've the same ship as you, whats your motor? |
Posted By: AlexFyssher
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2013 at 9:25pm
TBH the skippies only lasted about 45min then they were pretty stuffed. But kept kahawai alive all day. Would recharge them well after being in the water and slowing down a bit... But how long should a skippy last in a tube?
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Posted By: frenchay
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2013 at 12:13am
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90 merc krow, so Im confident it will be fine, we have taken a lot more water from whiti to the aldie pins over summer, 4 people and haven't had much trouble at all, just costs a bit in gas. This was the only way to get the maccas out there without them dying- 2 or 3 chillybins-, and then we tranferred them all into one chillybin and ditched the excess water once on the pins. Just replaced water with a bucket regularly. Cluttered boat and what not but we caught fish however looking foward to getting a decent easy to manage system in place
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Posted By: Lethal
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2013 at 2:07am
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mac's are one of the hardest bait fish around frenchay so yeah anything that will carry water... now if it was Piper/Slimies/kohera which are more like candy to kingfish then you would be in trouble.... so what sort of system??? if you make a box up that will hold the submersible pump plus hose this will keep the water pumping through while your just sitting or trolling, why in a box??? well you cant use the venturi pick up to drive through the pump it will end up going backwards and turn it into a dynamo at speed, hence the box to release the pressure but still have water to pump... to stop the system from draining if you happen to turn it off make sure you drill a hole in the inlet pipe topside near the waterline in the tank, you should run the pipe right down to the bottom of the tank to help circulation, the hole in the pipe will also help airriate the water as it sprays from the hole, all good and works a treat, i could keep 20lb snapper alive all day with this system and 10/15 piper alive for 24hrs.... 
------------- Thanks for everything you did for us Eric. may you rest in peace, You were one of the real legends of NZ recreational fishing |
Posted By: frenchay
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2013 at 12:21pm
| Cheers lethal thats basically what im doing, interesting about the box rather than the hole, makes sense. Does the box need to be high sided to keep enough water around the base of the bilge? |
Posted By: ponty
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2013 at 4:42pm
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I was thinking getting the HiTech system with bilge pump. Issue getting the water out as the system they have holes in the top of the tank to overflow. However My senator doesn't have a backstep so how would i keep the outlet pressurized rather than just letting it overflowing? |
Posted By: Jet_ski_fisher
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2013 at 6:12pm
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drill for a hose in the boat and pump it out by second bilge pump ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> MH... Catch measure release...<*))))< |
Posted By: ponty
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2013 at 6:37pm
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Thanks for that. My bilge pump for my boat is movable since I don't have any underfloor so could use that bilge pump. Just whether that is a "safe" option |
Posted By: AlexFyssher
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2013 at 12:25am
Ours is enclosed apart from about a 30mm whole in the top to let the pressure out when were moving.
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Posted By: CoastalStan
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2013 at 2:05pm
This is a simple set up i have done for my Ramco. Installed bilgepump in engine pod (there is plenty of water in there while underway and when stationary)this is controlled from helm switchpanel. Hose connectes to laundry powder bucket via an anti blowback valve to stop it draining when pump is off. Usually fills or changes water in around 30secs. Bucket fits nicely between baitboard and engine without interfering with fuel and throttle. Total cost about $60 and keeps fish very well.
   Its great for 20 or so yellowtail or Jack Macs and even a few small kahawai. I had a trevally in there last weekend and it was happy as.
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Posted By: frenchay
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2013 at 11:14pm
| CoastalStan I thought about that as an option, does it not drain right out when you start pumping it? |
Posted By: CoastalStan
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2013 at 11:59pm
| Does what start draining out? The pod or the tank? |
Posted By: frenchay
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2013 at 7:31am
| The pod? Id imagine it would empty as you pump water into your tank, and wouldnt refill when on the plane? |
Posted By: CoastalStan
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2013 at 7:53am
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The bottom of the pod is below the water line and it seems to keep enough water in there to feed it, most of my time is spent anchored with a max 30min run to a fishing spot. |
Posted By: Tonto2
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2013 at 5:45pm
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Hey Coastal where does it overflow to? ------------- slowly going where everyone else has already been |
Posted By: CoastalStan
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2013 at 6:16pm
| This one just overflows through some drilled holes around the top, only because it sits on the transom above the outboard pod and drains off the back of the boat. The last one i did needed two outlets the same as the inlet to stop it overflowing, I ran the two hoses out through the transom on the old boat. I think that one was only a 360GPH bilge pump so this one may need 3 outlets. |
Posted By: Tonto2
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2013 at 2:41pm
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ahh it becomes clear to me now, cheers ------------- slowly going where everyone else has already been |
Posted By: Bender
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2013 at 2:02pm
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FYI - this is the setup I had on my Outsider. Not sure if your boat has the swim step. I mounted the tank on two wooden bearers because it had 6 inches or so sticking out the back. The wooden girders took the weight. The tank clipped on to the swim platform. To do this I used two halves of removable hatch hinges (they are used on yachts and are available at most chandleries). They have a spring loaded pin which went into a hole I drilled in the wooden girder. It worked well. It had two water pickups. A pump in the outboard well for when the boat was stopped. That had a switch at the stern, easily reached when fishing. Putting it up front would mean you have to stop fishing and move forward and I felt that would be a hassle. The other pickup was for under way. It was a piece of high-pressure water pipe with a 45 degree bend fitting at the end. It could be pulled out of the water. It was held in place by four plastic fittings screwed to the outboard pod. To stop the pipe twisting in the water flow, and to give it a "stop" so it was the right depth, I epoxy glued two pieces of wood either side of the pipe. I put two through-hull fittings on the tank. The pipes from the well pump and the up-down pipe simply push onto these - there was no water pressure in them so they never popped off. Whenever I didn't want the tank fitted (towing the kids on a sea biscuit or whatever) I could just pop the tank off - pull off the two water pipes, undo the two spring loaded clips and hey presto. It worked very well (would be no good for tuna however). I found that the main thing was to have plenty of water flow when you put the live bait in there. They would stress and make the water very dirty - after a while they would settle down, and I only needed to run the pump for a couple of minutes every so often. I didn't run the pump all the time because you don't need to and they take a lot of battery power. I wanted to retain the simplicity of a single battery set up. The reason I did it this way is because I wanted to be able to remove the tank easily for when the boat was not being used for fishing - but took only a couple of minutes to put back on when I wanted to go fishing. I wanted the boarding platform clear of obstruction - I couldn't use the other side because the steering cable went right across it. The tank set up.  Two water intakes - the pipes just pushed onto the skin fittings. Easy to put on and take off.  Skin fittings and the two wooden girders on which the tank sat. Holes are for the spring loaded pins (and there are two holes in one side because I stuffed up the measurements first time round  ) Spring loaded clips are half-fittings from a removable yacht hatch. The other piece of wood on the boarding platform stopped the tank shifting sideways. The hand-rail stopped it from moving to our left.  This was nifty and it worked perfectly. The plastic clips originally had galvanised nails through them and I replaced those with stainless steel screws. It was easy to push down and pull up - but the friction was enough to keep it in place all all times.  Pump in the outboard well.  ------------- Nobody has ever come up with a great idea after a second bottle of water. |