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What Type of Pump to Use for a Homemade Livewell?

A livewell is a device or compartment where you store your fish so they stay alive and fresh until you clean them. Most new fishing boats have a livewell, but if you own an older boat, you might have to build your own. You can use different materials to make a livewell, such as a cooler or ice chest, but you will need a pump to circulate water to keep the fish alive.

Twin Port Pump
- A twin port pump combines the aerator and the wash-down pump. The aerator puts oxygen in the water so the fish can breathe, and the wash-down pump circulates the water so it remains clean. The problem with homemade livewells is that you have to change the water frequently without a wash-down pump. The twin port pump uses only one intake and one outlet for a continuous flow of water. As the water flows through the intake and outlet line, a component inside the device aerates the water so the fish stay alive.
Aerator Pump
- Using just an aerator pump is possible if you are using a small ice chest or container. You can purchase an aerator pump that has different intake configurations. One intake can be straight, or you can get the intake at a 90-degree angle. Deciding which configuration depends on what type of container you are using as your livewell. The disadvantage of using an aerator pump is that you have to change the water every day. The aerator pump will not circulate clean water in and out of the homemade livewell.
Pump Kit
- Anytime you plan to keep fish alive for long periods of time, you need to build a livewell that both aerates and circulates the water. A livewell pump kit is available that comes with an aerator pump and a wash-down pump. These two pumps are generally used on larger livewells. The kit comes with everything you need to install the pumps inside the livewell, except for the container you are going to use for the livewell.
Bilge Pump
- A bilge pump is a device used to remove water from the boat. You can use a bilge pump as a livewell pump after making some modifications to the pump to make it work. This involves adding water hoses or tubing to the intake and outlet of the bilge pump. You also need to cut holes in the livewell container to attach them. Once you have modified the bilge pump and attached it to the livewell container, place the intake hose or tubing into the water. The bilge pump draws fresh water from the lake and into the bucket. The outlet of the bilge pump pulls the old water out of the livewell and pumps it back into the lake.

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