Livewell Cooling System

[Chris186]

So I was thinking about adding a cooling system to my livewell. All the ones I have seen run throught the recirc pump. I usually run my livewell with the intake pump bringing in fresh water and only use the recirc when the boat is on the trailer. So my question is, if I install one of these, would I stop using the pump in and just run on the recirc pump all day ?

[Insanity]

Ok no one has answered yet so il put my twice cents in. Take it for what it's worth and it might not be that much. As I have never even had a boat that does this.

But It would have to be one bad dude to chill incoming constant water flow. Which would be a hard draw on dc power/ batteries. So Il bet it recirculates which means you would have to add air or fresh water every so often.

Well you still need fresh water every so often to keep ammonia levels down. Seems they would make a timed switch for this. Thinking some live wells are timed already? I think adding air brings the temp down on standing water in most circumstances. You might look into that before the chiller. I bet that sucker isn't cheap. Cool as heck though if it works good.

My god Sorry I can't clean the above up to make better sense. I've had a long hard day. Lol

[Glenn]

LOL!  Great answer!

 

My take - not ready for prime time....yet.  I suspect in the future we'll see livewells that monitor temp, O2 levels, PH, Ammonia, etc. and then automatically regulate, cool, and condition the water to maintain optimum levels - all with minimum draw on batteries.  So anything short of that is a step in that direction, but not refined enough yet. 

 

Just my .02

[slonezp]

Are you losing fish? You need to keep replacing the water like Insanity suggested to keep the ammonia levels down. There are some manufacturers running lines around the cooler using the ice to cool the water. You need to make sure you don't lower the water temp more than 10* to prevent shock. I think having raised oxygen levels is more important. There's something called a VT2 which forces fresh air into the water and bad air out of the water when you're on plane.  I've heard good things about it. I run my pumps on auto all day long and throw some catch and release in when I get back to the dock. If I have to wait awhile, I'll add some hydrogen peroxide to the well.

 

Glenn, 2 problems I see with your theory. Cost and durability. I could add a second starting battery and keep the pumps running on constant all day and achieve the same results. My Lund has 2 ways to fill the livewells. I can use the pump and/or a separate gravity fed fresh water pickup which also injects fresh air into the water. The gravity fed pickup fills the well while running from spot to spot.  

[Chris186]

Thanks for the replies. I have been doing alot of research on it, and I think im going with adding oxygen instead. Something like Power Bubbles or Pro Air. I dont really have room to add another cooler for a cooling system.

[Glenn]

You may not need to make any modifications at all. Watch this video. If you're not doing everything mentioned in the video, then you're wasting your money on something you don't need....

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/fish-care-in-the-livewell.html

[FD.]

1) Keep you livewell clean.

 

2) Add  a cap full of sure life when you put your first fish in.

 

3) Make sure the aerator is working properly.

 

I fish tournaments with water temps in the high 80's all summer long.  I have not lost a fish in more than 3 years.

[Chris186]

 Thats a good video. Its not that im losing fish, I just thought it would be benficial to the fish to add a system. I use Please-Release-Me, and when its hot and there is more than 10lbs in the well, the pump is on constantly. I figured since cooler water slows the metabolism and holds more oxygen, it could only help.  I have only lost 2 fish in a tournament, one looked like it choked on a giant shad it had half swallowed when I caught it, the other one im not really sure why it died.

[DrNip]

You check out the oxygenator?

[Basseditor]

Oxygen first. Cooling second. IMO.

Ice does a good job but as has been mentioned don't drop temp by more than 10 degrees. I worried about adding bagged ice because of the chlorine but Texas biologists say that isn't a big issue. They recommend the oxygen and ice.

But my boat has a good aeration system so I haven't had any problems and it gets real hot in summer. I add ice if needed. Now if I caught 40 lb limits in tourneys, I might reconsider. LOL.

[Chris186]

You check out the oxygenator?

I have checked it out, the thing I didnt like was you have to use their livewell treatment with that. From what I have read, I can still use the Please-Release-Me  with the Power Bubbles or the Pro Air. Im also liiking into the nozzles from Flowrite, I had no idea it would be this complicated for me

[jhoffman]

Get yourself a couple large gatorade bottles. Fill them 3/4 of the way full with water and freeze solid. Throw those in the livewell, add some livewell treatment and keep the pumps on a timed recirculation. This way you dont introduce anything into the water. The other option is to fill the gatorade bottles with well or spring water, add the treatment to the bottle and freeze. Uncap the bottle and into the livewell it will slow release the treatment and cool the water. It wont last as long though.