Recirculating Livewell Pump

[gran398]

A 450 Rule is more than sufficient for that capacity.

[wessnapp]

SO here is what I had:

1100gph pump with filter being fed by a high speed pick up.  The manifold is a bottom to top design with holes all pointing to one direction to give the live well a one directional current.  The overflow is a massive opening at the very top.  


Because the well is installed and maybe difficult to take out and adjust, I ordered a specific design.  A y-valve off the end of day drain, a filter + aerating pump feeding the manifold line.


What I got is a t-valve off the overflow drain, a filter and a standard pump feeding the manifold line.


The problem with the way they did it is the following:
1) the end of day drain is at the top and if I lose any water due to splashing, there will be no water to pull from for recirculation.  Getting the livewell 100% full will be a challenge in itself for this system to work.
2) the main pump feeding a t-valve will force water to both the livewell and overflow thus I lose water pressure.  A y-valve would have forced a more directional current.  Plus the end of day drain would be closed so there would be no loss of pressure.  
3) I will have to not only close the feed Line, but end of day line as well to start recirculation.
4) THE DAMN PUMP ISNT AERATING! :evil:

[seabob4]

Wes, I kinda confused as to "their" thinking, teeing off the overflow to feed the recirculating pump.  The recirculating pump needs to be installed close to the base of the livewell, ensuring it a constant source of water.  If the tank level drops to the point where no water is entering the overflow, there goes the recirculating pump's source of water.

That being said, is a diffuser head was being used without an outside air source being drawn in, the head would have to be above the overflow drain level so that the diffused spray coming out of the head actually traveled through air before it was reintroduced into the tank.  This way, it will incorporate air molecules in with the spay, thus introducing oxygen.  If the diffuser head is below the overflow (and, thus in the existing baitwell water), no NEW air is being introduced.  You can't create oxygen out of water that has already had some oxygen removed from it...

Who are "they" that did this job for you?

[gran398]

Couple of initial questions:

Is the well in the floor, or above deck?

Is it a Kodiak style well, with the side "manifold"?

Why was it changed from the initial design?

What was the function of the two Y diverters to be?

The main overflow needs to be lower in the tank. With it at the very top, water could slosh over when you jump on plane.

I'm not getting a good handle on the purpose/function of the design changes. The initial setup is how 99% of the ones here are rigged for tourney KM fishing.

SB's post just popped up as was working on this. Looks like we're thinking the same.

[Capt. Bob]

I ain't sayin' anything. :|

[seabob4]

I ain't sayin' anything. :|

What...

[Blue Agave]

Who are "they" that did this job for you?

JAY BLACK?

[gran398]

I ain't sayin' anything. :|

Oh c'mon...don't you remember the turbodefribulator, or whatever the heck it was? My memory is fading.....

[wessnapp]

Who are "they" that did this job for you?

JAY BLACK?

FUNNY!

[wessnapp]

Is the well in the floor, or above deck?

The well is sitting on the deck and used as a lean post.

Is it a Kodiak style well, with the side "manifold"?

Yes it is.

Why was it changed from the initial design?

The initial design is what I was left with by the manufacturer.  When I ordered/purchased the livewell, it was supposed to have an aerating, recirculation pump already built in.  

What was the function of the two Y diverters to be?

Because taking the livewell off would be a major project.   To have the recirculating pump take water from the well and feed aerated water back in, I decided to utilize the end of day drain as the supply and the manifold as the delivery point.  I should have called it a Y-Connector.  Something like this:

I'm not getting a good handle on the purpose/function of the design changes. The initial setup is how 99% of the ones here are rigged for tourney KM fishing.

Yes, the initial set up is perfect for those who are always offshore.  However, I trailer my boat a lot.  Having a recirculating aerator pump will allow me to keep bait alive for an additional 1-2 hours while the boat is on the trailer.  For example, I bring my boat to work and drop it in at lunch time and go and get bait at one location where I know it is easy to get.  Then pull the boat out, and drive over to the Skyway bridge to go fishing for Tarpon.

[wessnapp]

Who are "they" that did this job for you?

 

Not gonna put anyone on blast - just venting some frustration.  As I said before, the livewell is cursed with some bad juju.

[seabob4]

Who are "they" that did this job for you?

 

Not gonna put anyone on blast - just venting some frustration.  As I said before, the livewell is cursed with some bad juju.

Better that than a fuel tank.  Livewells won't go ka-boom!  

[wessnapp]

Who are "they" that did this job for you?

 

Not gonna put anyone on blast - just venting some frustration.  As I said before, the livewell is cursed with some bad juju.

Better that than a fuel tank.  Livewells won't go ka-boom!  

HAHAHAHA  Yes - you are correct sir!

[wessnapp]

Here's the pump I'll be installing on the fwd livewell on the Action Craft...



It has an air inlet that attaches to the pump body, the suction of the pump draws in air (and, therefore, Oxygen) into the recirculated water...

Bob, how long is the tube for the oxygen supply/control?

[seabob4]

Bob, how long is the tube for the oxygen supply/control?

Let me go out and measure...

6' Wes.  But if you need longer, you can buy the same stuff at HD...