I just bought an aluminum Sea Ark Zx180 bass boat. It has a livewell in front and rear. It only has a way to pump fresh water into the system. It has a pipe that plugs the hole and the water overflows at the top of the hole in the pipe.

 

I fish some small fruit jar night tournaments and I am not sure this livewell will keep the fish alive. Water temps are in the upper 80s and I always cool the water with ice blocks and use please release me or catch and release.

 

Should I add a recirculating pump? If so, how difficult is this?

 

Should I just use a pump that has the suction cups on bottom?

 

Or is a pro air system or oxygenater  the way to go?

 

thanks 

I fished tourneys for 8 years with that set up and only lost 2 fish That entire time, and both were on the same day. Does the aerator have a timer on it? My advice it to put a timer on it if it doesn't already have one so you are bringing in new water periodically

I added a Power Bubbles to my Lowe 180w and put it on a Toggle Switch. $41.00 at Amazon. It will take care of both livewells. I did It because I take fish home to eat and it lets me give them air when the boat is out of the water and seemed like less trouble then adding a recirculating pu