Tilapia Pond Size

[Aquarius7373]

H, I want to build an aquaponics system in my backyard, and I wanted to know how deep the pond should be. It will be kidney shaped, about 24' x 8'. I will have a bridge going over the middle, and wanted the water more shallow there, maybe 18" deep, and 24" deep on one side and 36" deep on the other where there will be a floating fountain to aid in adding dissolved oxygen. I will also have a waterfall at one or two sides. I am hoping to feed about 100 plants with this setup, and when the pond gets overcrowded, I will harvest, fillet, and freeze extra fish. I am planning on buying a breeding pair of 1:6 to produce all male hybrids.

Please let me know if this depth will suffice, I would rather have more surface area to aid in dissolved oxygen, and I don't know how low the water table is, because I'm in central Florida on the west coast, Tampa area. Also, how would I winterized them?

Thanks so much for any input and advice,
Nick

[keith_r]

base your fish load on the amount of filtration (growbed volume/area)

kellen is the local tilapia expert, but i think what you are talking about regarding the tilapia is hype, some kind of super male hybrid?

[Aquarius7373]

I don't believe it to be hype, it just makes sense. Any good pair of closely related species will produce young with hybrid vigour, and this is seen with any animal. But with the 1 breeder colony consists of five female pure breed orange T. Mossambica and one male pure breed improved body form T. Hornorum, the offspring are visually separated from the parents, and easily discernible. Also, more males means they will be less territorial. This pair has been bred for years to bring out the most desirable traits without the use of drugs, hormones, or chemicals. But that is beside the point, I only added that as filler info to have a slightly better understanding of my intention of perfection in my backyard ecosystem.

I will be doing an EFT setup, and it will be designed into a pergola, and the pond will have a layer of gravel at the Bottom to aid in growth of bacteria.

I just need to know how deep the pond has to be, so when I find out the depth of the water table, I'll know if it will be an issue, and also the volume of dirt I will be excavating so I know the size of raised beds to create to accommodate the amount of soil I'll be digging up.

So, to reiterate for people who are skimming, I would like to know the depth a pond should be for tilapia in central Florida, to allow for proper winterization.

Thanks!

[Pugo]

In the Philippines the general depth of a Tilapia pond is a meter and a half. But I know a lot of people that only have it about one meter deep.

One meter is more or less 3 feet.

[Mean and Green]

To get all male fry, you'll have to have the breeding tilapia in a separate tank, and i can't remember what the exact water temperature is i know it's fairly warmer. But the warmer water makes sure that all of your fry are males. Again ask kellen he'd know the exact's on this.

[Aquarius7373]

Yeah, but the Philippines are at about 15 degrees latitude, Florida is about 30. Maybe I'll have to go lower....

[Pugo]

Tilapia don't like cold water the deeper you go the cooler the water is going to be... MY guess would be 4 ft, after that it is going to be hard to work in the pond.. unless you plan on draining it to harvest..

[Aquarius7373]

Okay, thanks. It's 93 today, and it rarely gets below freezing in the winter. I will also have a raised pond that waterfalls into the main pond, so I can move the breeders in there when it gets cold and harvest all the others. Heating the raised pond (which will be just big enough for maybe 10 fish) won't be hard at all.

[Pugo]

If it gets below 50 you are going to have an issue with your Tilapia.. And as my home town is Crestview I remember it does get cold once in a while up on the pan handle...