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How to Improve Livewell Aeration Systems

At its core, a livewell is nothing more than a box filled with water that you put bait, fish or crustaceans in to keep them alive while on a boat. But as anyone with a home aquarium will tell you, it takes more than a box of water to keep fish alive. Aeration adds oxygen to the water and is one of the key aspects of any successful livewell. For do-it-yourself people, it's possible to create an aerator using an oxygen tank and specialized regulator.

Things You'll Need

Oxygen cylinder
CG 540 welding valve
Marine-grade fishing regulator
Ceramic diffuser and associated tubing

Instructions

- 1
  Fill your pressurized aluminum cylinder with oxygen at a welding shop. Medical facilities will not fill or refill these cylinders.
- 2
  Place the cylinder into a bracket that is secured tightly to the boat. Ensure the bracket is in a well ventilated area of the boat.
- 3
  Connect a nickel-plated or brass marine-grade fishing regulator to the oxygen cylinder's CG540 valve. The regulator can be either a needle valve or rotating barrel with preset openings.
- 4
  Ensure that the CG540 cylinder valve is in the "off" position.
- 5
  Thread the fishing regulator inlet nut carefully onto the valve in a clockwise direction. Tighten the nut well.
- 6
  Push one end of the ceramic diffuser tubing over the barbed outlet nipple on the regulator.
- 7
  Push the free end of the diffuser tubing through the pre-drilled port in the side of the livewell.
- 8
  Attach a ceramic diffuser to the free end of the tubing. Ensure the diffuser functions on 25 to 35 pounds of pressure.
- 9
  Rest the diffuser on the bottom of the livewell so that the bubbles must travel through the entire height of the water in the livewell.
- 10
  Turn the regulator to the "off" position before opening the cylinder's valve.
- 11
  Stand behind the cylinder and turn the valve counter-clockwise to open. Use this valve to regulate the amount of oxygen delivered to the livewell.
- 12
  Open the cylinder once living fish are placed into the live well.
- 13
  Maintain the ceramic diffuser over time by sanding the surface of the unit to remove impurities which become caked onto the diffuser.

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