I have sketched out some ideas for making my own bait tank so I can keep my live bait alive longer. The pump I am looking at using runs on a 12v system. Now to my question. Can I run a trickle charger to my 12v battery while also running my pump off the same battery? I have had heard mixed thoughts on this. Some say it will work fine, others say it could ruin the motor in the pump. Thoughts?
it really should be fine…. voltage isn’t a issue, amps would be your only concern and you will be fine if you use like a 1 or 1.5 amp trickle charger….. your charger cant push amps, the battery that’s being charged needs to pull the amps. ( if that makes sense) so if you have the pump on the battery as well as the charger it should be fine… like the battery, the pump will only draw the amps needed to run the pump and what every left over from the charger, the battery will take the rest.
now im no elec. engineer nor do I warranty my advise but I do know electrical theory
Have you thought about a 110v to 12v converter instead?
A quick search on amazon will give you lots of cost effective options.
Are you storing the bait in the boat then? Make sure to fill it up with tap water or bottled, and even then the CO might take issue with transporting off the water unless you can prove it somehow.
if the water is a problem…. I use a tap water additive that you can buy at any pet store….it takes the chemicals out of the tap water making if fish friendly
The CO will absolutely take issue. You can not leave any body of water in MN with water from that lake. So if you are transporting bait you will need to have new water in your vehicle to put the bait in as you leave that body of water. Been checked many times in the last few years and thats how it works for me.
I’m in Nebraska, so that is not a problem.
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I’m in Nebraska, so that is not a problem.
Yet. 
It is here in Iowa, we followed MN
Through my experiences and from the voices of others, I don’t think you could find a CO in central Nebraska if you tried. I have been hunting and fishing in NE for 25 years and have been checked once. Over the past 10 years I have fished over 150 days a year in Nebraska and haven’t been checked. I have been to Lake Oahe in SD 10 times in my life and have been checked 12 times. Unless you live around Lincoln or Omaha, Nebraska CO’s or the Game and Parks don’t even know you exist.
Here is what I did for a bait tank. Its an old freezer that I have plugged in on a timer so it turns on a couple times a day to keep the water cold. The filter from the bottom up is a floor drain upside down packed with the filter material. Then a short pipe with screens in them so that I can put poly-fil in there to filter out finer particles. Anther short chunk of pipe with a screw cap on top then your just put in your pump. This thing works awesome and I don’t have to have batteries hooked up.
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I’m in Nebraska, so that is not a problem.
OH MY GOD!!!!! Don’t you realize you will get invasive species 
Is there a converter out there that I could use to run my 12v pump to a 110 outlet? If so, links? I did a few google searches and they didn’t really help. Everything was for an automobile.
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Is there a converter out there that I could use to run my 12v pump to a 110 outlet? If so, links? I did a few google searches and they didn’t really help. Everything was for an automobile.
Bumping. Any suggestions are welcome.
Nighteyes, is this bait tank for in your boat or at your home?
It’s for home.
It’s going to cost you a bit…but..
Dump the 12v pump. It’s going to go out on you when you aren’t watching and have a container of dead bait.
Not sure if you posted the size of your tank or not…what size do you have?
Assuming you’re talking about a pump and not a “bubbler” type aerator.. I would recomment a garden pond pump that runs off of 110v.
The one I use was $80.00 and pretty heavy duty. Fleet Farm has slightly smaller pumps for less money.
I’ve gone through so many of the 12v pumps I don’t really like to think about it. Now I only use them when I’m transporting bait for short distances and I have a second back up 12v pump along. (with clean tap water in the bait cooler 
)
Depending on the size of your tank, this one should take care of you.
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Assuming you’re talking about a pump and not a “bubbler” type aerator.. I would recomment a garden pond pump that runs off of 110v.
The one I use was $80.00 and pretty heavy duty. Fleet Farm has slightly smaller pumps for less money.
I’ve gone through so many of the 12v pumps I don’t really like to think about it. Now I only use them when I’m transporting bait for short distances and I have a second back up 12v pump along. (with clean tap water in the bait cooler
I’m running two 300 GPH pumps in mine, highly suggest this route!
I’m managing to keep river shiners alive, so I guess I’m doing something right.
How big is your tank Kevin? He may or may not need anything that moves that much water.
Also, if NE’s has access to well water, there’s another option that would make the need for a larger pump needless.
More info my man. 
It’s a 55 gal barrel filled to around 40 gallons. I live in a town that has a small % of chlorine added (undetectable by taste), but am still treating the water.
Double set-up. One filters water and the other makes the current. I’m technically only cycling 300gph Also running a large aerator as well.
Bottom tank is right around 60 gal and the pump pulls from that tank to the top tank which is an old 30 gal garbage can. The water then overflows through 3 tubes into the bottom tank again.
I have the 2nd 300GPH set to make a constant current in the garbage can, with a large rock at the bottom for a current break if they need it (they don’t use it). It looks like a toilet bowl flushing, but that is what river shiners like.
Bottom tank has large fatheads, some have been in there for almost 2 months now.
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It’s a 55 gal barrel filled to around 40 gallons. I live in a town that has a small % of chlorine added (undetectable by taste), but am still treating the water.
Yes the smaller pump will do you well. Kevin’s set up is great.
I use this one. Looks like FF isn’t stocking them any longer.
PS I stopped treating my city water and haven’t seen a difference. I should note I only keep bullheads for bait.
I am not using a submersible this go around. During the summer, and even now, they generate alot of unwanted heat. Last summer I was adding a frozen gallon jug of ice 3 times a day to keep the water temp below 60 degrees. This was after replacing 1/3 of the water everyday.
But the best advice anyone with a bait tank at home will tell you is dump the 12v pump. 
I will keep my eyes open for something that will work for my setup. I appreciate all the input!
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I am not using a submersible this go around. During the summer, and even now, they generate alot of unwanted heat. Last summer I was adding a frozen gallon jug of ice 3 times a day to keep the water temp below 60 degrees. This was after replacing 1/3 of the water everyday.
That sounds like a lot of work. Do you have your tank out in direct sun or something? Mine got hot, but I never lost too many fish due to it. I was only holding minnows last year though, plan to hold some chubs this year so I will have to keep the water temp down. MY plan, which may work for you, is going to be to put my tanks in the shade and paint them white. Always covered, and a frozen gal of water when it is really hot out.
I don’t think you need to keep the temp below 60, just keep it from getting hot and keep it well aerated.
I kept my tank inside my shop with a high powered fan blowing on in all the time. 60 degrees or below seemed like the magic number for me when keeping chubs and larger shiners. If I kept my tank below 60, the die off was very minimal. Over 60 and the death rate increased.
I picked up a pump on Amazon for about 30 bucks. Your cold water issue is also why I have an old freezer I picked up for 40 bucks and have it turn on for an hour 2-3 times a day. I can adjust this to what water temp I want and usually keep it around 50 degrees. I kept minnows from fall all the way through the winter to see how long they would last. No problems, I would have one dead once a week sometimes 2.
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