Custom Bait tank
 

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?

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.

Dude that looks like it will work

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.

Petco tank
 

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

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.

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! :cheers1:

bait tank
 

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.

:eek: Will that plywood swell up or put heavy weight on the yak?

I beat you to Pet Mart. I bought the new bait tank for $20. It's on sale now. I added some stainless loops/screws to tye down the tank. I added marine goop to the inside of the screws to keep the bait from getting torn up. The tank combined with the 500 keeps the bait perfect. For my drain line I went to Home Depot and bought a 2 ft section of pool/spa hose in plumbing and got the matching white pvc pipe with threads and a threaded cap. Use a rotozip or dremel to carefully cut drain holes in the cap. The only thing I have not done was make a angled base to keep the tank level. The tanks sits at a slight angle in the yak. It still works at the funky angle. I take some photo's of it when I make the base.

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

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.

Geoff,

Check out my post in the Share Your Innovations thread. Basically you attach a 90 degree elbow to the pump and put a piece of hose on the end of the elbow. The hose should be long enough to extend above the water line in the tank when it is full. This way, if your tank gets turned off, (I do it all the time by mistake), the water will not drain out. The mod costs pennies and takes just a couple of minutes to install.

If you have specific questions, please PM me.

Bob

It's not light,compared to me just a feather weight, but the price was right for me!Once it is wet it just kinda stays wet and salt water keeps it from rotting...probably get another two or three years out of it.The next one I'll make about two inches shorter.

Pet food container bait tank. I don't use the lid.

http://home.earthlink.net/~webpics/images/%2313.jpg

My $.02
 

I have been meaning to post my projects in the innovations tab.. but for starters..

I used a standard 5 gallon bucket. I put that inside a mik crate. My pump sits inside the crate (in the front corner) and goes through the scupper just like the hobie tanks would. The crate makes a great housing to work with and mount the pump, hoses, drain, and battery box in.. And keeps it all contained, but not inside the actuall bucket. I have also mounted rod holders to the back of the crate. There is room inside the crate still to stick waters, lunch etc.. its very versatile. The pump has a $5 "check valve" from hom depot mounted to it. This prevents backflow when turned off, and eliminates the need to re-prime once turned off/on. See pics..

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...9/DSC05184.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...9/DSC05185.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...9/DSC05186.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...9/DSC05187.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...9/DSC05190.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...9/DSC05200.jpg

that angled pet container is tits -- got mine at petsmart. OEX has all the hardware to trick it out and make work nice. holds 20 greenbacks easy.

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.
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/u...w/P3300221.jpg
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.
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/u...w/P3300222.jpg
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.
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/u...w/P3300219.jpg
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.
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/u...w/P3300217.jpg
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.
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/u...w/PB030249.jpg
http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/u...w/PB030247.jpg
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.

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.

Ok.. you put mine to shame!
 

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

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.

Here's what I made out of a brute trash can, and a conical trash can lidhttp://img514.imageshack.us/img514/4...profilecw3.jpg

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/4903/battank3qw2.jpg
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/5932/fullbaitri9.jpg

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..

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/7...mppartsdc0.jpg

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5758/mountdk4.jpg

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/4...stalledcc9.jpg

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8...trainerba8.jpg

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


Jim

Hobie Power, No peddles needed
 

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.

http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/o...enit/TANK2.jpg

http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/o...enit/TANK1.jpg

http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/o...enit/tank4.jpg

http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/o...enit/tank3.jpg

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

http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/o...209091504a.jpg

http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/o...1209091505.jpg

http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/o...209091504b.jpg

http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/o...209091505a.jpg

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.

Thanks!
 

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.

Hook 1 has a decent write up on how to make your own bait tank:

http://kayakfishinggear.com/riggingy...k-how-tos.aspx

I liked the idea of using the stackable vittles vault, but they were too big. Instead, I decided on the larger version of the OEX "ultimate" container. http://www.petguys.com/-769397142300.html
It is rated to hold 30 lbs compared to 15 lbs for the smaller one. At 14 x 14 x 13 tall, it fits perfectly in my Hobie Adventure. The larger size makes it suitable as a livewell or a dry box.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1270064171
It is self-priming and will not drain when the power is shut off. The fitting attached to the pump was manufactured from a 1/2" pvc male threaded elbow. The pump is connected to a one-way valve (from OEX). To disconnect the pump assembly, a male/female hose connection was added.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1270064407

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...RearLoaded.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...oldersFWD2.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...hruScupper.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...ank-Inside.jpg
The intake is mounted low to oxygenate the bottom of the tank. The fitting was made from a 1/2" female threaded pvc elbow. The outflow is taken from the top.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...f-Draining.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...pterStorag.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...lugStorage.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...akeplugged.jpg
By angling the outflow tube downwards, the tank will drain itself. I may have to add a drain plug since there isn't enough suction to get all of the water out.

The tank can be used as a livewell by changing the water level height tube. It is stored inside of the tank, using the eyelet bolt and a plastic conduit hanger. On the opposite side, I have storage for the hose-threaded plug which replaces the pump when the tank is used as a dry box.

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

I like the way you painted your outriggers orange to match your boat....

Hopefully, a couple coats of polyurethane will keep them looking purty! :)

FYI - Wet sanding them with 2000 will help the poly bond with the pvc pipe.

I'll know you you are if I see you on the water. That's fur sure.

I finally got around to do most of the stuffs for my first custom bait tank. First thing was I went to Petsmart to get the tank. Then went to West Marine to get tournament rod holders, and some hardwares. Finally, I stopped by the OEX at Kearny Mesa and got 6 volt battery set up, handle, and some eyelids. I bolted almost everything right there, removed some items from the old bucket bait tank, and I had OEX to do the rivets for me and had advices along the way. I slapped on the OEX sticker and some other sticker on it showing my first pride and joy for the new hotel for greenbacks! I'm thinking of going tomorrow to try it out. Here's the pictures as promised!