Self Contained Bait Tank Pics

[reelapeelin]

Here are pics of a bait tank I made a while back...it's actually two tanks; a 25gal sleeved inside a 30gal, insulated between and a Starboard top...the stand-pipe contains pump, air infusor and two-stage filter (filter not shown, but it's just batting and aquarium charcoal)...router-cut the top and both lids outta 1/2" Starboard...no thru-hull or over the transom plumbing...all it needs is 12VDC...



pump and air infusor in stand pipe


top stays put w/ 4 plastic wing-nuts


lid-stop...makes closing easier


Bait access lid


stand pipe/ filter access and air control


all closed up



Mostly used for freshwater Blue-Back Herring and also many times for saltwater bait; menhaden, mullet and whatever else comes back in the cast net :o ...

[willy]

Sweet, looks like a pro job, how do you hook up to water and electricity?
I bought an external tank but need to hook it up, want to have a seperate externally mounted pump and my problem is I can throw a hose overboard to fill but the drain is on the bottom so overflow comes out to low to just drain overboard

[reelapeelin]

Willy, that's the sweet thing about this tank...you DON'T hook up to water...fill it up once; air infusor keeps water areated, filter keeps it clean and insulation keeps the temp down...the plug in the 6th pic is the 12 VDC connection... ;) ...

If a small bucket won't fit down in your tank, stow away a 500 gph Rule w/ 8 or so feet of 3/4" tubing...crimp on a pair of alligator clips that'll reach the nearest battery and pump 'er on out ...I keep a pump-out like that aboard, but usually use a small bucket cause it's faster :D ...

[Blue_Runner]

Pretty cool, where'd you get the tanks?

[reelapeelin]

Thanks, BR...I ordered the tanks from Bass Pro thru one of their local dealers (no freight that way)...was thinkin' about goin' into production w/ these as they're great for inland striper fishin'(lotta that around here), but Kodiak wouldn't give me a volume discount so it was cost prohibitive... ::) ...oh well...

[macojoe]

I am going to redo my tank over the winter and I am going to copy yours!!

How about getting plastic 55 gal barrales and cutting them to size??

Thats what mine is made of. Works great!! But always getting the pumps cloged, but your deal should solve that!!

[reelapeelin]

MJ, glad you like it...if you don't need an "insulated"(double wall) tank, then those barrels will work great...or if you can find a smaller one that'll ''sleeve'' inside a larger one...that's why I used the two Kodiak tanks...

Let me know when ya get started...there're a couple of other little ''tricks'' to how this system works...I'll post 'em for ya!! ;) ;D ...

[msbhammer]

Looking Good REEL. ;)

[C YENSEN]

not to shabby, i would love to have one of those to put my live spot in.

[reelapeelin]

Thanks Cy...glad ya like...this one is a ''one-off''...initially considered a prototype...my plan was to go into production and these would have sold for around $300...which would have been a savings of $150 over another maker's tank who has a 6 month backlog...I've had one of his tanks as well, and it just doesn't get any better...several friends, many striper-cub members and guides all over the southeast use this guy's tank...I was gonna go into competition w/ his smaller tank, as he makes 'em up to 50 gals which are close to $600...

...anyway, w/ the cost of the two tanks, Starboard, SS hardware, etc. I've got close to $300 in this one, so it's probably not goin' anywhere anytime soon ;) ...except aboard ''Reelapeelin"... 8) ...

Here's the guy I's gonna compete with...

http://www.fishing-boating.com/livewellsystems/

Maybe he can help ya w/ those spots... ;) ...