Installing a recirc. pump in livewell

[Javelin_Venom]

I have purchased a recirculation kit for my livewell and am needing to know some things about installing it. I bought this one from bass pro: http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_9247_200003005_200000000_200003000_200-3-5

Basically all I have now is the pump to bring water into the livewell, but if i let this run continuously, it overflows. I am wanting to put the recirculation kit in to help keep the water aerated and keep fish alive. What all does this entail. Do you have to be able to get under the livewell to put this in, and if so how do you do this? I am hoping there is someway to install this working from inside the livewell. Is this possible, any ideas? I'm totally clueless.

I've also bought a timer/switch for my aerator:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_896?cmCat=CROSSSELL&cmid=PP_P0_2.

Say I install this, but not my recirculation kit, and have it run every 30 seconds - minute or so and leave my valve for my livewell open (except for when on plane or out of water), meaning it will be as full as the water level my boat is sitting in, would this work to keep fresh water coming in but not overflow my well?

Any ideas with all of these things would be greatly appreciated. I am fishing several tournaments this year and don't want to lose any fish. Thanks in advance.

[Bass_junky]

I may be wrong, but I believe you will have to install a overflow (requires drilling hole in the side of your boat).  I re-did mine a couple years ago and pulled the decks up and removed the tanks to assure I had no leaks.  I don't remember the manufacture but I installed a valve system for recirculating-replenishing & draining.  Total costs were about 100 bucks, excluding pump.  Would hepl to see a pic of your livewell and boat....

[cart7t]

You'll have to have decent access to the backside of one side of the livewell.  You'll drill a hole at bottom side for the pump with the screen.  Then another hole above the water line towards the top for the little aerator head.

[Javelin_Venom]

Aren't there some types of submersible pumps you can put inside your livewell and just drill a hole for the electric to go to your timer or whatever?  Is this one not submersible?  If that's the case then I might take it back because I don't want to take the top off my boat and a mechanic would charge me an arm and a leg for something that shouldn't be that difficult.  Is there any kits out there that are submersible?  Anyone have a link if so?

[Way2slow]

No that is not submersable but is very easy to install.  Hopefully its at least a 750 gph pump.  All you have to do is like cart7 said.  Make a hole the size of the threaded pipe on the end of the pump in the side of your livewell.  Just make sure you make it high enough off the bottom the nut fits fully on a flat surface.  Then make a smaller hole in the top above the water line to mount the little plastic aeriator and connect the hose between them.    If you don't have a timer already, you really need to add one, you still don't want that pump running all the time.  You also need a add a toggle switch to turn that pump on and off.

They make kits that have air pumps with stones but they are not very effective.  The one you have works pretty good.

[Javelin_Venom]

Posted by: Way2slow Posted on: Today at 8:07pm

Make a hole the size of the threaded pipe on the end of the pump in the side of your livewell.

I'm starting to feel dumb with all the questions, but when you say drill a hole in the side of the livewell, does this mean you can do it from the inside of the livewell or will I have to have access to the outside of the livewell, via taking the top half of my boat off??  Or how else would I have access to the outside of a livewell wall?

[cart7t]

Don't know how you're boat is laid out.  In mine, I can pull the gas tank and have complete access to the backside of the livewell.  Now, to actually get to it I have to put my body into some unusual positions but you look like a young guy and would have no problem.  As for just sticking something down into the livewell like a pump.  Well, I'm not sure how you'd mount the sprayer head and keep the thing in one place.  Those fish would probably knock your whole setup around.

[Way2slow]

You need any area in the side, bottom, back or front that will give the room needed for the pump to stick out.  You don't need to have room for the full threaded part of the tube.  You will measure the thickness of the livewell area your going to mount in, the thickness of the nut to hold it plus about another 3/4 - 1" to screw on screen on it and you will saw the extra off at that point.  Note, a screen is needed or fish (or their tails) can block the pump off.  

Just make sure if going into the back or side, your are not trying to go through a bulkhead and that you are going directy into the livewell or it may leak.