Like Lake said, you will ned to put clips on the pump. I do not have holes drilled in the top of my ice chest as I use it for dry storage more than I use it for a livewell. When I do use it as a live well I fill it by placing the pump in the lake and once it is filled I place the pump in the well and hook the hose up to a spray bar. I never run the the pump continuesly but I will turn it on for 15 minutes at a time. I will replace the water in the well,depending on the health of the fish, how hot it is, number of fish in the well, every 1 to 4 hours. The battery should last you all day even if you ran it a bunch.