bait tank design - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

kevbeer · 02-02-2019, 03:21 PM

I am about to fabricate a cheap bait tank for use on a recently purchased used 2017 hobie outback. Looking to fish La Jolla kelp and yellow tail as the extreme case, with SD bay including the jeti etc. as sort of a normal routine. I would like to minimize tank volume and pump power.

I have a design in mind for initial build however can't decide which tote to use. I have bought two shown below.

Q1: what is minimum depth in a bait tank given my fishing locations? I am hoping 6" or less is adequate.
Q2: what is minimum length and width of a bait tank? I know people use 9.5x9.5 petfood containers.
Q3: what is a decent (not ideal) water flow per minute in a 3 galloon bait tank? I am planning to have 1 gallon per minute which means complete volume change over every 3 minutes.

Thanks in advance

YakDout · 02-02-2019, 03:31 PM

Either container I should work fine. But your pump speed is a little fast. Is this with a 12 volt battery? You want tank to fill in about 7 minutes. No matter the size. If your current flow rate is with a 12volt switch to a 6 volt and it should be very close.

kevbeer · 02-02-2019, 04:49 PM

Yes, I was thinking 12 volt. I've been looking really cheapo pumps off amazon, and the one I expect to get is 12 volt , 5 watt , (~.5 amp). Quoted flow is 240 L/Hr = ~1.0 gallons per minute however this may be over quoted.

Any thoughts on the 6" depth? What is the recommended minimum? I would like to go say 5" if that works. Am I bordering on the tank being too small?

kevbeer · 02-02-2019, 04:50 PM

Oh and what about color? does it really matter?

Getting antsy! Want to pick one, drill some holes and get started!

YakDout · 02-03-2019, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevbeer

Yes, I was thinking 12 volt. I've been looking really cheapo pumps off amazon, and the one I expect to get is 12 volt , 5 watt , (~.5 amp). Quoted flow is 240 L/Hr = ~1.0 gallons per minute however this may be over quoted.

Any thoughts on the 6" depth? What is the recommended minimum? I would like to go say 5" if that works. Am I bordering on the tank being too small?

You can run a 12 volt pump on a 6 volt battery. I was suggesting it because your fill will be too fast with a 12volt if it’s going to fill in 3 minutes.

kevbeer · 02-08-2019, 04:08 PM

About done. Went 6v. I imagine fill is around 5 minutes. I will measure later.

jruiz · 02-02-2019, 04:50 PM

25gph bilge pump running on a 6V is the most common configuration you'll see out there.

jruiz · 02-02-2019, 04:57 PM

One issue I see with the totes are all the edges. You're more likely to beat up your fin baits

kevbeer · 02-02-2019, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jruiz

25gph bilge pump running on a 6V is the most common configuration you'll see out there.

really? can you provide link to this 25 gph? the ones I have been seeing in posts and pictures are all super high gph

jruiz · 02-02-2019, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevbeer

really? can you provide link to this 25 gph? the ones I have been seeing in posts and pictures are all super high gph

My mistake. Rule 25 is a real popular pump. It is 500gph

bertha · 02-09-2019, 09:42 AM

Loving this thread! indeed

kevbeer · 02-10-2019, 09:37 AM

I measured to pump 1 gallon takes 2 mins 15 seconds which mean ~6:45 fill. I am going to drill drain holes to hold exactly 3 gallons. In retrospect I should've put the inlets lower and not had to trim the lid but hey live and learn.

YakDout · 02-10-2019, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevbeer

I measured to pump 1 gallon takes 2 mins 15 seconds which mean ~6:45 fill. I am going to drill drain holes to hold exactly 3 gallons. In retrospect I should've put the inlets lower and not had to trim the lid but hey live and learn.

Pretty spot on flow rate. Nice work

Hunters Pa · 02-10-2019, 08:08 PM

Looks good. Keep in mind when you drill the holes that you will be rocking on the water, not sitting on stable dryland. I would suggest drilling them higher than you think they should be. You can always drill more lower. A lot easier than plugging holes that ends up before my too low.

5-20 · 02-11-2019, 01:51 PM

Kind of curious about why you went with one of those boxes instead of a vittles or pet food type of container?

I am not a bait tank expert, just wondering.

02-10-2019, 08:08 PM	#14
Hunters Pa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fullerton Posts: 1,360	Looks good. Keep in mind when you drill the holes that you will be rocking on the water, not sitting on stable dryland. I would suggest drilling them higher than you think they should be. You can always drill more lower. A lot easier than plugging holes that ends up before my too low. Last edited by Hunters Pa; 02-12-2019 at 11:10 AM. Reason: typo

02-02-2019, 03:31 PM	#2
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	Either container I should work fine. But your pump speed is a little fast. Is this with a 12 volt battery? You want tank to fill in about 7 minutes. No matter the size. If your current flow rate is with a 12volt switch to a 6 volt and it should be very close.

02-02-2019, 04:49 PM	#3
kevbeer Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: rancho bernardo Posts: 65	Yes, I was thinking 12 volt. I've been looking really cheapo pumps off amazon, and the one I expect to get is 12 volt , 5 watt , (~.5 amp). Quoted flow is 240 L/Hr = ~1.0 gallons per minute however this may be over quoted. Any thoughts on the 6" depth? What is the recommended minimum? I would like to go say 5" if that works. Am I bordering on the tank being too small?

02-02-2019, 04:50 PM	#4
kevbeer Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: rancho bernardo Posts: 65	Oh and what about color? does it really matter? Getting antsy! Want to pick one, drill some holes and get started!

02-02-2019, 04:50 PM	#7
jruiz Large Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: La Verne, CA Posts: 1,011	25gph bilge pump running on a 6V is the most common configuration you'll see out there.

02-02-2019, 04:57 PM	#8
jruiz Large Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: La Verne, CA Posts: 1,011	One issue I see with the totes are all the edges. You're more likely to beat up your fin baits

02-09-2019, 09:42 AM	#11
bertha Banned Join Date: Sep 2018 Posts: 20	Loving this thread! indeed

02-10-2019, 09:37 AM	#12
kevbeer Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: rancho bernardo Posts: 65	I measured to pump 1 gallon takes 2 mins 15 seconds which mean ~6:45 fill. I am going to drill drain holes to hold exactly 3 gallons. In retrospect I should've put the inlets lower and not had to trim the lid but hey live and learn.

02-11-2019, 01:51 PM	#15
5-20 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 241	Kind of curious about why you went with one of those boxes instead of a vittles or pet food type of container? I am not a bait tank expert, just wondering.