best diy bait tank

Got a plastic drum cut to 20 gal and bought a Tsunami 500 gpm aerator kit today (on sale at Wallymart for $25) but can't decided how to plumb everything. I like the one in the video but not sure exactly how he did it. Looks like it gets plenty of oxygen and a nice flow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWt3VTIRPZg

Found this which adds some info. Looks like he's just using a bilge pump.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l_3Yiftjx4

Shortened, painted and ready for plumbing.

The way we setup live bait tanks here on the west coast is... 3/4" inlet on near as possible to the bottom on the side of the tank.This keeps scales from building up on the bottom. A 90 deg fitting inside the tank to direct waterflow so it flows counterclockwise. The less obstructions inside the tank the better, bait has nothing to crash into. Put a ball valve on the inlet line to regulate the flow(500gph seems excessive for 20gal). I use a transom mounted 360gph pump, ample for a 20gal tank.
For the outlet, a 1 1/2 thru hull however high up in the tank you want your water level with a screen large enough to pass scales but not allow bait to become trapped. 1 1/2" nylon reinforced hose to a thru hull or if possible just draped over the side.
Aerators we don't use here, just circulating water through the tank keeps our sardines and anchovies happy.

Thanks Man. I agree, I'm gonna set it up as intended. This is the kit. It's small boat so the overflow will drape over the side.

Needs some handles on it.

Fixed or rope handles. I'm thinking 1/2" elbows.

will you be lifting or moving the bait tank when full of water ?

consider a lifting device that will accommodate you moving it full.
if you never move it full - a common fence gate handle will work
if properly reinforced from the backside.

good job !!

I spect I'll tip it over to wash it out sometimes. I'm tempted to put a 12" piece of bent 1/2" pvc on each side with a tee in the middle. How much does it matter if the water flows in a circle.

water bouy said:

I spect I'll tip it over to wash it out sometimes. I'm tempted to put a 12" piece of bent 1/2" pvc on each side with a tee in the middle. How much does it matter if the water flows in a circle.

Click to expand...

Quite a bit if you put shad in it.

Yeah shad will be in there and anything else I catch. Whereabouts do you catfish.

As I was reading about bait tanks someone said bait fish like to swim in one direction rather than the other. Does that sound likely?