Esky Or Round Tub?

[Floating_Medic]

Gday raiders,

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are on what to use when making a home made livie tank. Should i look for a cheap esky (inbuilt insulation being a con) or do i just use a home brew type round tub?

And if i use either, will a lid hinder the oxygen exchange or will that be done with the fresher water coming in from the pump/pickup im going to install with it?

Cheers, Alan.

[brickman]

i use a 20ltr round tank but it's only good for 8 or so yakkas and the water must circulate constantly or they start dieing after about 15 mins

a lid will not efect oxygen supply and will stop them jumping out there should be no odstructions inside the tank or the liveys will get stuck behind it and die

try to angle the inlet so the flow is creating a current so the live bait just sits still with there heads facing unsteam

placing the inlet above the overflow will also help airate the tank

cheers gary

[Welster]

Depends on where you are going to put it in your boat and how you might fasten it in. If you get an esky, one with a hinged lid would be good.

[tan the fisherman]

I use a 50L plastic beer making barrel with lid. I tape an aerator to the outside and run a tube inside the barrel. We have kept livies alive for 12 hours or so but we do change the water every 2 hours or so.

[Floating_Medic]

Cheers guys,

I think i'll use an esky, cause it will have the lid and insulation built in.

Although im a bit concerned that the water flow wont cause a circular motion, but will this be counteracted by the fact that the water will be constantly refreshed? I'll have a pick up for when on the move, and a 500-800gph bilge pump for when stationary.

[chocofallon]

Hi mate,

I used a home brew kit and find it awesome. great circulaion keeps alive for ages..slimmies etc.

heres a link from another thread when I was building it

http://www.fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.php?showtopic=41713&st=0&p=313610&hl=live%20bait%20tank&fromsearch=1entry313610

good luck.

[Floating_Medic]

Hi mate,

I used a home brew kit and find it awesome. great circulaion keeps alive for ages..slimmies etc.

heres a link from another thread when I was building it

http://www.fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.php?showtopic=41713&st=0&p=313610&hl=live%20bait%20tank&fromsearch=1entry313610

good luck.

Chocofallon,

I see you have put your inlet at the bottom of the tank, ive been told for mine to stop the siphon effect to mount the inlet above my outlet hole and have the outlet hole bigger than the inlet so the water can constantly be pumped into the tank but never overflow.

Im off to Bunnings tomorrow to choose a tank, then BCF tuesday to get the fittings and pump!!

Cheers for the replies guys.

[Hooked-Up]

Chocofallon,

I see you have put your inlet at the bottom of the tank, ive been told for mine to stop the siphon effect to mount the inlet above my outlet hole and have the outlet hole bigger than the inlet so the water can constantly be pumped into the tank but never overflow.

Im off to Bunnings tomorrow to choose a tank, then BCF tuesday to get the fittings and pump!!

Cheers for the replies guys.

Hi mate, couple of things to make sure of, the inlet should always be at the bottom as if its placed above the outlets you only tend to replenish the top third of the bait tank as your fresh sea water is pretty much just pouring straight across the top and out if you know what i mean, make sure your outlets are at least 2.5 times the size of the inlet i made mine about 4 times the size just to be sure as the outlets only work with gravity, keeping the gravity thing in mind obviously your outlets need to be above the water line, my tank holds about 50 litres of water and have kept more than a dozen medium sized squid healthy as for 10hrs+. hope this helps you out.

[Floating_Medic]

Cool cool,

Plans change again!!! I'll now put the inlet at the bottom of the tank, and have a one way valve on the inlet hose to stop the siphon effect.

[Welster]

Cool cool,

Plans change again!!! I'll now put the inlet at the bottom of the tank, and have a one way valve on the inlet hose to stop the siphon effect.

If you dont want to use a one way valve put the inlet at the top and run the hose down the inside of the esky/tub to the bottom and put a bend on the boottom to circulate the water nicely. At the top inside the esky place a tiny hole in the hose to stop the syphon effect.

cheers Jason

[tan the fisherman]

PS: Bunnings doesnt have the right vessels

Go to a brewing shop to get the round barrel style or a reputable camping store for the right esky

[Floating_Medic]

I got a 44litre esky today with a lid that opens partially and a bung already installed for emptying. Just got to get to BCF tomorrow to get my bits and start building!

[PPSGT]

I have always used a decent esky - my current one isnt that big, but with hold fifteen big yakkas without a problem

I even mix up squid and yakkas and once the black ink disappears they seem to get along and i dont care if the squid are live or

dead when i go to use them, but i find yakkas stay up the top and squid on the bottom. when i have target squid only they live in there quite happily - i only catch southerns not arrows so i dont know if that makes a difference.

With the tank insulation makes all the difference, with yakkas it is the change in temperature up or down that kills them more than lack of

water flow. Higher temp drops the oxygen level and they will struggle. My tank has the inlet and outlet both at the top at opposite ends, and i use a cheap johnson bilge pump about $30 and marine plumbing fittings cut with a holesaw.

I turn the pump on and off all day Sometimes i get home, i have forgot to empty the tank and the yakkas are still alive

I used a mates 80 litre beer esky on his cruiser and kept 20 yakkas just with a bucket every hour or so.

Had it been in a non insulated tub, they would died very easily - with a pump running the whole

time it keeps the water temp more constant which helps keep them alive.

Slimies need lots more water flow, and wont stay alive if the pump is turned off for very long

A round drink esky would be good - and i'd g a square cheapo esky over a round non insulated tank any day

I installed an expensive one made from the same stuff as cutting board in a mates boat and wasnt that impressed

as the sun would heat up the water easily ( it was in a tinny) and if you turned the pump off they would struggle

The same material in a factory under deck installation out of the sun would work a lot better

I made mine into a bait board over the transom with a flap door in te cutting board- works a treat and the whole thing cost under $100

water splashed against the other side of the esky makes lots of bubbles and the yakkas seem happy

If you want to use slimies a lot get the biggest round tank and pump you can fit in the boat

[chocofallon]

Hi mate,

Actually my inlet is three quarters of the way up the tank. How I have set it up is the hose running to my inlet has a flow valve or switch to stop the water running out or to stop the the tank filling up if I do not want to use the tank. However someone mentioned a flow or one way valve which sounds like a good idea. I use two outlets so I don't get over flow and since the inlet is (nearly) as high as the outlets I bought a $2 ninety degree hose connection that I just push into the inlet and rotate it down to what ever angle I want this sends the fresh water all the way to the bottom works great. I personally wouldn't put the inlet in the bottom as unless you have a one way valve that works. if you turn the pump off or is stops working you will find your tank empty and livies sunbaking as the water will drain back out through the pump. when I turn my pump off i close off my valve to stop the water running back out the inlet. And by having the inlet three quarters of the way up the tank if I forget to close the valve off it only drains out to the inlet which is still three quarters full.

Good luck with it if you'd like me to take a few pics to explain what I mean let me know. I do like the idea of a one way valve I never thought of that I may look at adding one on myself.

Cheers,

Joe

[Floating_Medic]

Hi all,

Ive built my tank! I used a 3/4 inch inlet and a 1 and a quarter outlet. The outlet is too small as i tested the tank and pump to see if it was all running. The pump was pumping in quicker than the water could get out so im going to install another 1 and a quarter outlet next to the first one to help with emptying. But apart from that, i think ive got a great home made livie tank onboard now!!

Great to keep the days catch alive too when im only fishing inshore, and atleast at the end of the day i decide not to keep any of the fish, i can release them to fight another day!

Cheers, Alan.

[Anroco]

Hi all,

Ive built my tank! I used a 3/4 inch inlet and a 1 and a quarter outlet. The outlet is too small as i tested the tank and pump to see if it was all running. The pump was pumping in quicker than the water could get out so im going to install another 1 and a quarter outlet next to the first one to help with emptying. But apart from that, i think ive got a great home made livie tank onboard now!!

Great to keep the days catch alive too when im only fishing inshore, and atleast at the end of the day i decide not to keep any of the fish, i can release them to fight another day!

Cheers, Alan.

PIc's Pic's Pic..

[Floating_Medic]

I'll get some but i wont be able to upload them till tomorrow night.