Custom Bait tank

[Aquahunter]

I have been thinking of upgrading my bait tank, I have the 5 gallon bucket with the basic 360 GPH. I was looking at this (http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2811537) and was wondering if this can me made to fit on the x-factor and would like others feedbacks and pictures of their custom tanks on x-factors or something similar to its design to fit it in. Maybe get a thru hull pump to fit thru the scupper hole?

[kareem korn]

That looks cool. I'm going to go check them out. But, in my opinion you can't beet the common 5 gallon bucket. No corners means the bait lives longer and is less beat up. Especially sardines. Plus, I found that whatever the shape and size you choose it just fits better when it's placed in a milk crate. The xfactor has a molded seat for a milk crate.

[forefrazier]

Originally Posted by kareem korn

That looks cool. I'm going to go check them out. But, in my opinion you can't beet the common 5 gallon bucket. No corners means the bait lives longer and is less beat up. Especially sardines. Plus, I found that whatever the shape and size you choose it just fits better when it's placed in a milk crate. The xfactor has a molded seat for a milk crate.

I agree...(sort of) Lots of guys use the pet food containers cause they come with the cool spin off lid. Other than that the standard bucket is best due to the round shape. Before the Hobie tank I currently use, I used a 3.5 gallon bucket from OSH hardware. It has the same size lid opening as the 5 gallon version only it is lighter and is the same height as a milk crate. Saves a bit of weight since 5 gallons of water is not needed to keep your dozen or so macs alive all day and works just as well with 'dines and 'chovies. If you really want a lid on your tank and like the spin off type on the petco ones, you can find them online and just put it on your bucket.

-Steve

[sandydiego]

The corners are rounded in the pet food container. The bait does not get messed up. I even left my last bait in the tank with a little sea water when I went home. My boys wanted to try the mackrel. 5 out of 8 were still alive after a 20 ride home. Crazy.

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by Aquahunter

I have been thinking of upgrading my bait tank, I have the 5 gallon bucket with the basic 360 GPH. I was looking at this (http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2811537) and was wondering if this can me made to fit on the x-factor and would like others feedbacks and pictures of their custom tanks on x-factors or something similar to its design to fit it in. Maybe get a thru hull pump to fit thru the scupper hole?

Dude that looks like it will work

[Aquahunter]

I also like the idea of having the hatch facing my back to make it easier on getting the bait, it's a little PITA doing Marco Polo game on the 5 gallon bucket with these mackies. I'm gonna stop by the PetSmart to see its dimension and confirm the fitment before I go ahead with the idea.

[Reel Anxious]

I think I saw those at Cosco for $27.00 last week.

[twitchy]

I have an X-factor and I have one of those containers to store my dogs food in. It will fit in the rear of the X-factor, only down side is that the container is pretty big, it might be a little to much weight when you start filling it up.

[dsafety]

Somewhere in the archives here on BWE there is a thread from a guy who used a pet food container to make a bait tank. The finished project looked good. I can't remember if there were any reports on how well it worked.

If I were working on the project, I would model the water intake and drain system on the Hobie LiveWell which has a similar shape. Just make sure you design it so the water will not drain out when the power is turned off, (a flaw in the current Hobie design that is easily fixed).

The OEX stores are currently selling a bait tank similar to what you are planning to build. Here is the link. http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/...it-Tank/Detail

It does not have a through-scupper intake system but probably works very well anyway.

Bob

[Geoffkoop]

Originally Posted by dsafety

Somewhere in the archives here on BWE there is a thread from a guy who used a pet food container to make a bait tank. The finished project looked good. I can't remember if there were any reports on how well it worked.

If I were working on the project, I would model the water intake and drain system on the Hobie LiveWell which has a similar shape. Just make sure you design it so the water will not drain out when the power is turned off, (a flaw in the current Hobie design that is easily fixed).

The OEX stores are currently selling a bait tank similar to what you are planning to build. Here is the link. http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/...it-Tank/Detail

It does not have a through-scupper intake system but probably works very well anyway.

Bob

Bob-how is the Hobie water problem easily fixed? Mine drains out. I never thought about fixing it...now i want to!

[stairman]

I built this ones in an hour out of seven ply water proof glue plywood ,stainless screws.and gorilla glue.It's two years old and there has been no matenance at all.If the water level is too high you just keep adding holes till it stabalizes where you want.I have had twenty nice greenies in and the only ones that died were those that were injured while being caught.It will hold a couple bass for those release tourneys too.Cost was less then ten bucks but then I did have the plywood laying around....a 4x8 sheet should build about six of these.

[GregAndrew]

I use exactly what you are talking about and am very happy with its performance and versatility. I don't know what the dimensions are for the X-Factor rear well, but it fits nicely in my Trident 15. Mine has water level adjustment, scupper feed and exhaust and doubles as dry safe storage for surf launches and landings. I can easily keep cured Sardines alive and lively for 10 hours with no pump malfunctions.

I have the pump and exhaust tubes running through the scuppers. The inlet on the tank is on the top, so no back-flow problem with the pump off.

My pump fits well down inside the scupper making it nearly self-priming (need to lean to that side a little). Thinking about just adding the anti-siphon valve to prime once and forget about the lean.

I also use a piece of foam to hold the pump in place securely in the scupper, and have a screw on connector holding a piece of window screen on the bottom.

The exhaust tube is also the water level adjustment piece too. The PVC tube slides through a compression fitting allowing me to raise, lower and drain my tank.


Since this pic I have cut off about half of the outside piece protruding from the bottom. The PVC pipe will slide into the tank completely in the high water level position, but does not extend below the bottom of my yak in the lowest level that I would use. If you want more info, feel free to pm me.

[Gino]

you can buy those twist off gamma lids in black, at True Value.

Thos epet food containers not on sale are damn near 40 bucks.

[Rob929]

That's a nice setup.. Mine was relatively cheap, but thats a nice container to use. I looked into those at the time, and they were $$ not on sale.. good to know they go lower sometimes.

Is this the one? Cant seem to find one for $20..
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2811537

[GregAndrew]

That is the same container, mine just sits on what is the back side in the picture. Might have to look in store for the sale price. $20 is a great price for them.

[sandydiego]

Originally Posted by Rob929

That's a nice setup.. Mine was relatively cheap, but thats a nice container to use. I looked into those at the time, and they were $$ not on sale.. good to know they go lower sometimes.

Is this the one? Cant seem to find one for $20..
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2811537

No that one is the bigger one. There's a smaller one that's on sale in the store for $20.

[Fiskadoro]

Here's what I made out of a brute trash can, and a conical trash can lid




Works great! Can't complain. I especially like the cone shape lid as it keeps bait in but is easier to drop bait into. Bait barges love the tank as it's super easy to scoop bait into for the same reason.

That shows the original pump setup but now I've gone to a in the hull..









Completely trouble free since I put it in.. works for me..


Jim

[Adam12]

http://kayakfishinggear.com/baittankhow-to.aspx

[shortstack]

Adam post some pics of your's, The hobie tank will work in most kayaks! I have a tarpon 160I, it has a small tankwell but the hobie tank looks like it was made for it!! My tank is feed by a thru hull pump, I pluged the intake hole that the attwood pump fits in and mounted the pump inside the yak. I use a 12volt system, I use an airator style nossle on the intake that is adjustable for the flow.









Here is a pic of my old tank, still a great tank but not as clean as the hobie tank.









I've made a few bait tanks, I've only been kayak fishing for just over a year and I think I've made a new tank every month!! I've finally came up with a setup that will be around for a while. I can't take the credit for the hobie tank mod, Adam modified his first, after seeing it I had to have one. The hobie container has it all, low profile, a great hatch, and has places already for rod holders, so if you think the hobie bait tank is just for hobies think again. You can buy the hobie bait tank parts seperately.

[Aquahunter]

Thank you everyone for all your input and have decided to start making the bait tank today. I'm going with the pet tank with new rod holders, 6 volt battery, and some items from the old tank to the new one. I look forward to do the build and will show the finished tank with pictures.