Two FTs In One System?

[registrar]

As i gather more and more info about all this aquaponics malarky, i'm wondering about the possibility and feasibility of running 2 (smaller) fish tanks in the one system.
Instead of having, say one 1,000l tank with one species in it, running the requsite sustainible amount of growbeds, what about a tank of tilapia on one side, and a tank of koi carp on the other? (or some other configuration...it dosnt matter at this stage of my thinking)
The tilapia would be grown for food, but the koi (which i hear are slower growing?) would be both a hobby and for relaxation purposes. I dont think the two breeds get on all that much, and, besides, it makes sense in my logical mind to keep 'em separate.
Anyone running similar, or have knowledge if it would work OK.

Reg

[chainsaw]

hi registrar, It will work. Providing they have the same temp requirements. You can hook them up in series (one flows into the other) or parrallel (each flows into Gb or Sump). Can do it all on the one pump, don't need a pump in each tank if in parrallel. Only problem is disease, it will affect all fish.

[registrar]

hi registrar, It will work. Providing they have the same temp requirements. You can hook them up in series (one flows into the other) or parrallel (each flows into Gb or Sump). Can do it all on the one pump, don't need a pump in each tank if in parrallel. Only problem is disease, it will affect all fish.

Thanks for the speedy reply.
Wouldnt disease be a problem no matter what, though?
IE, not restricted to a 2 tank config.

Reg

[GaryD]

Hi Reg,

My Combo System is a two-tank mega bin system.

I've also had a 3 Mega Bin system.

The benefits of a multi-tank system include:

• Different fish species
• Different age groups
• Consistent nutrient strength
• One pump
• One filtration system

I don't see any disadvantages that don't apply to a single tank system of the same capacity.....except the added cost of having several tanks.

Gary

[helomech]

I have one big tank, 1550 gallons, and will have an additional 3 IBC's for fish also. I figured I can have one IBC with a breeding trio, one for fry, and I am sure I will figure out what to put in the third IBC. Maybe a different type of fish.

[tpilk]

I use multiple tanks as well, mostly to separate size - it's much easier for feeding purposes as the smaller guys can't eat the larger pellets. They also struggle to compete with the bigger fish for food. Raising Tilapia, you can't seem to have enough FT's as they just keep breeding.

In one of my large tanks, I have both Tilapia and Koi in together. They coexist perfectly as their requirements - pH, water temps, food, etc are all very similar. I wouldn't say the Koi are much slower growing...they are good eaters and certainly get their share of the food. Very pleasant fish to keep as well.

[Oswego]

In my first system that I am coming up with now will be a small two tank system(100 gallon each) with good solid separation and filtration. It will have very little plant use because next year this will be part of my breeding system for fry and small fingerlings.
I will another system with some aquariums in common filtration system for tilapia breeding.
By next spring I plan to have a larger outdoor system for growout of tilapia with two larger tanks(300 to 600 gallon each). This one will have more plant interaction.

At some point I hope to have aquariums for breeding also using the small two tank system for fry and small fingerlings with larger system with larger FT's with solids separation and good filtration for staggerd fish harvest.

The small system will probably just have duckweed and water hyacinths. Larger two tank system I plan to add grow beds and other uses of the water to grow veggies.
I want to take good care of the fish with veggies as the side benefit.

Putting my multiple aquarium system together now and will soon have some tilapia from Tilapia source to start everthing off.