98 Marlin Live well Pump

[Harpoon]

So my 98 Marlin had a 500GPH live well pump that needs replacement. Any harm/benefit to increasing that to 800 or 1100 GPH
The live well worked pretty good with 500, kept about 10-15 big mackerel all day.

Would the stronger pump create too much turbulence ?

 

[Family Tradition Fishing]

The only issue I could see is if the drain isint big enough to drain properly. I cant remember off the top of my head the inlet/ pickup size but that could also be a limiting factor as to how much you can pump in. Does the 98 have the oval well behind the passenger seat? My 05 is plumbed to pump water through the entire water column in a circular motion, no turbulence. I think mine is 1100 gph but not 100% sure. I'll be at the boat Tues or Wed if you want I'll take a look.

 

[Fishtales]

Some models today use 1100 ghp.

 

[Fishtales]

Bait Livewell Tank 101, Best Livewell Pumps and Setups | Marlin

Here's how to set up a great livewell system to keep baits frisky all day while offshore, plus a few things to avoid along the way.

www.marlinmag.com

Only a 20G livewell. Per their formula 840gph is best. Good point about flow, usually there is a drain with a vented pipe that ensures it doesn't overfill. Need to check that and make sure it can drain as fast as you pump in.

 

[seasick]

So my 98 Marlin had a 500GPH live well pump that needs replacement. Any harm/benefit to increasing that to 800 or 1100 GPH
The live well worked pretty good with 500, kept about 10-15 big mackerel all day.

Would the stronger pump create too much turbulence ?

Bigger is not better for live wells. There are calculations based on capacity of the tank and to an extent the species of fish that you want to keep alive. The design goal is to have a pump that insures a certain number of total water changes per hour.
If the pump rate is too high, the fish will stress and can die. If the pump rate is too small, the fish will suffocate.

 

[Harpoon]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to go to the 800, which will pump slightly less as it is "uphill". Plenty of capacity on the drain.