Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

found a good document here;
http://extension.missouri.edu/p/G9473

Very nice Keith, as I have alot of bluegill. Appreciate the read!

Very helpful, especially about spawning.

Great info. I believe there is some type of Lepomis species in the river. I might try those for my ap system

lots of sunfish varieties.. found this today;
http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2574177/1

Wow some of those look tropical even. Have to put a window in the side of the FT to watch them.

I'm actually strongly considering the pumpkinseed sunfish (the gibbosus) because many folks sell fry or younglings on our verion of gumtree around here, plus so many people use them in aquariums that there is a good supply of them at the shops (on order only though).
I'm trying to wrap my head around it and trying to figure out if going with these guys over common carp... any thoughts guys?

if you have access to them, it can't hurt to try.. while lots of the sunfish don't get "large", they do get to eatable size!.. gut, scale, remove the head, and deep fry (in bacon grease..)
or try pickling / canning bg!
some have other benefits for a system.. shell crackers will keep snails in check.. red ears will eat leaches and other parasites etc..

Thanks for all the info Keith!
Have to admit, I am still stuck on Tilapia...idk if it indoctrination, the taste of the filet...
In SE GA I shouldn't have too much difficulty keeping the temps up, I will have a fish house, but am seriously thinking of running either cats or bluegill as another fish source...I have a farm a mile or so away. Unfortunately they don't have Tilapia but the 12 I received from FVSU are breeding and I have some fry!!!

Thanks again!
Brian

i've got a few blue tilapia (10) and hoping they'll breed.. for a food source for my yp.. they grow much faster than the bluegill.. but i've loved eating bluegill since i was a kid..
but i'm sure i'll be growing some tilapia out as well.. it's pretty neat seeing how fast they grow