Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

(I know this is technically called aquaculture, but...) I will be moving from Michigan winter to warm Florida + a house in 2 months and wanted to start growing my fish now (not bought yet - 100 blue Tilapia), without plants and build my actual system once I get there (bigger fish then would help mature my system faster, won't they?)

I'm looking for suggestions on getting started / setup, knowing that I'll be transporting the fish 1500 miles in 2 months. I have book knowledge but no hands-on experience yet. Thank you for the help.

You really need to wait 2 months.... Start planning your system to keep yourself occupied.

To build a recirc system now, stock it with fish, then pack it all up to move 1500 miles? NOOOOoo....!

Unless you're planning to air freight them, that's going to be either very risky, expensive or a failure in my opinion

Sorry, but most fish hatcheries I know refuse to freight fingerlings more than 200 miles, and they're professionals who know what they're doing.

Even with oxgyen bottles and all the expensive gear, that distance will inflict too much stress on the fish in my opinion

And remember that bigger fish are even more difficult to transport as you'll need more water in the transport tank to stop it getting toxic, and more air

Im with EB on this one - spend all that time and energy researching and designing a kick ass system which will be a successful and more enjoyable venture for you

Logistical nightmare to move the fish and filtration to keep the fish from dying from poisoning from their own waste. In the other thread you were talking about being humane to fish?

I have moved my fish/system twice but in both cases it was under a 30 minute drive and I setup part of the new system, treated the water and seeded the system before moving the fish.


Also to consider how many states would you be transporting them through where tilapia require a permit to posses, transport or are illegal to posses alive?



I concur with the other poster. just wait 2 months to get started in your new location.

Wow. I had no idea. I thought I'd just hook up a battery-run aerator and drive really slow. I've read threads of people moving their systems but I obviously have no frame of ref what it all entails.

This is also why I wanted to start now. I didn't want them going through trauma of being "shipped". I wanted to pick them up personally, drive them home, etc... so I am absolutely certain that they aren't banged around. But now I learn that that will be even easier to accomplish in FL as "blue" are native and available for pickup within an hour drive. Excellent!

Thank you all. Your advice is very clear and I will take it. Will wait the 2 months (meanwhile, I can spend the time building my "fish resort" - and learning more.

tilapia are cichlids and native to africa... if they exist in flroida waterways it's because they were introduced there, they are not native.

but yah.. sourcing a tropical fish in florida is going to be easier than michigan.