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  1. #1
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    cleaning live wells

    guys, what do you use to clean your livewells, thanks

  2. Member
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    #2

    USA

    DON'T use any bleach, probably some earth friendly detergent. Use the search threads, I have seen this question before.

  3. Member C@meL's Avatar
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    Alton Bay, NH
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    #3
    I will probably hear that I shouldn't do it this way, but have for 5 years without any problems.

    I fill the wells with a garden hose. While it is filling I add a couple cups of bleach to them. I then recirculate the mix for about 5 minutes. Then I drain it and refill with water only. I run the recirc for another 5 minutes. I do this fill and recirc and drain one more time. I then will use a clean towel and wipe down the wells being sure to get all the hard to reach places.
    Once satisfied that I got all the debris out I fill and drain one more time.
    When I get it on the water for the first time I will fill with lake water, recirc and drain.
    I have never lost a fish in my wells so I am confident with this procedure.

    Bill

  4. Member
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    #4
    thanks guys,

  5. Member kmv_sti's Avatar
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    #5
    I just use a bit of dish soap, and when I say a bit only a bit. Then just flush it a couple time through the recirc and then just hose it down until i feel it's good. Never had any issues

  6. Member
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    Gatineau Qc Canada
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    #6
    I use dish soap.. rub everything, rinse and dry with a cloth.
    I like C@mel's idea to activate the pumps and clean them out too.
    Shawn.D
    2015 Phoenix 618pro w/ 150 Evinrude Etec HO

  7. Member
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    Illinois
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    #7
    A splash of Hydrogen Peroxide

  8. Member caskey_b's Avatar
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    #8
    I have used scrubbing bubbles bathroom cleaner with good, quick results in the past
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  9. Banned
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    #9
    Biodegradable Simple Green. Flush after.

  10. Member Snoopy Rod's Avatar
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    fish city, TN
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    #10
    just warm water and a rag, than wipe them down with vanilla extract.

  11. Member Tim W's Avatar
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    #11
    Could be a dumb question but what does the vanilla do?

    Triton 19 XS Elite, 225 Mercury Pro XS, Minn Kota Ultrex 112, Hydrowave H2, Twin 8' Power Pole Blades, Power Pole CHARGE, Lowrance HDS 12 and 16 at console, Lowrance HDS 9, Garmin LiveScope at bow, Mercmonitor, Rigid Industries Deck lights and other stuff to come that will make me go more broke

  12. Member Snoopy Rod's Avatar
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    #12
    no dumb questions, it gives it a nice smell and disinfects it.

  13. Skeeter Boats/Missouri Club Moderator Rodney Bledsoe's Avatar
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    #13
    Baking Soda, I also let the pumps run

  14. Member
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    #14
    I just wipe them down with clean water at the boat ramp after using them.
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  15. Member TomM's Avatar
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    #15
    Quote Originally Posted by TOXIC View Post
    Biodegradable Simple Green. Flush after.
    +1


    Tom

  16. Member Marinadan's Avatar
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    May 2014
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    Pendleton, Indiana
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    #16
    I bought some livewell cleaner years ago in a granulated form. I would swear it was just
    plain brown sugar. It did a good job and had no effect on the fish I caught. Have not tried
    using brown sugar, but I don't know why it wouldn't work.

  17. Member
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    Tewksbury, Ma
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    #17
    I use simple green and water.

  18. Member
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    LaFollette TN
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    #18
    I found out the hard way that you will lose allot more fish, if you don't clean your wells... I had about a 3 week time lapse that I had fish die on me 1 year, and an old "local legend" taught me the trick I use.

    1.Fill closed off livewell up, with water hose, until there is a few inches of water in the bottom.
    2. pour 1/2 bottle of distilled white vinegar, 1/2 bottle of hydrogen peroxide, and a few tablespoons of baking soda in the water.
    3. Scrub entire live well with a clean rag sloshing the solution all around .
    4. Open livewell to drain, and rinse well wit clean water.

    The vinegar will clean any fungal algae, and it along with the peroxide will disinfect. The baking soda helps eliminate odors.

    HOPE THIS HELPS

  19. Member
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    Raeford
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    #19
    Original dawn... The blue stuff... That's what they use to get oil from oil spills off animals. It's not harmful. I use a small amount of that, and some hydrogen peroxide. Works good, never lost a fish.

  20. Member
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    Pell City, AL
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    #20
    +1 on both vinegar and baking soda. Baking soda on a wet rag first to scrub all the surfaces, then fill with about 10% vinegar, 90% water. Let soak for about an hour, then flush through recirc pumps before flushing with fresh water.
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