Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I know some of you are growing Tilapia in their aquaponics system, what are you feeding them and what kind of feed conversion ratio are you getting?

Hello Nico:

I am using Zeigler Brothers Bronze feed (their mills are local), and I haven't measured feed conversion.

http://www.zeiglerfeed.com/html/finfish.htm

Im using Helfter natural fish pellets (organic but not certified). No idea on conversion yet..

Ditto Dave's response.

Hi Janet!

I don't really care much about feed conversion in an AP system, because the input is going to be used somewhere, unless you remove the sediment from the system completely you will be getting some random combination of fish mass and plant mass out of the feed, with no losses except if things turn to gas.

Tilapia in general have excellent food conversion ratio's ..... because of the way there guts work ,, best to allow 6 hours or more nbetween feeds.

Yes, they do have excellent FCR (and I like that they eat low-protein cheap junk, too), but there was also some discussion about fish having a faster growth rate when young, and then it tapers off. So I wonder if they have a better FCR when younger, and then that maybe declines too as they approach mature size. So I guess if you are most interested in converting fish food to fish fillets, the FCR becomes really interesting, but if you want to just convert it into something (fillets, heads of lettuce, basil or tomatoes), then it matters less.

I have a breeding colony of Tilapia setup at the moment, about 10 fish (avg 8 cm). I am feeding them a high quality fish flake,
algae wafers and occasionally I feed them with some frozen beef heart mixture.

They are hardly growing at all. I suspect that is because they are more intent on breeding than growing.

The offspring from the colony started growing VERY fast. I have approx 10 smaller tilapia that are ready to go into my
AP system very soon. I will have to acclimatise them to the cold water first.

Where do you get Helfter natural fish pellets? The on-line places google has found look pretty sketchy, but then my google-fu has been weak lately...

Janet ,, yes Tilapia grow VERY fast till about 9 months of age , then growth rates drop fast.
This is why a lot of growers use a higher protein pellet / powder when the Tilapia are young.
Around 40% protein mark until 3 or 4 inches long then drop to the cheaper 25-30% alternative.

WISH we where allowed to grow these fantastic fish in AUS

Tim, are you going to be selling fingerlings? hint hint

I have to order it from them. There are no local feed sources for fish, and nothing organic. Item number 901ORG50BAG It cost $23.33 in shipping.
Phone: 1-309-522-5024

One day Outback.....

I really have to just keep watching them, they breed then they spit the fry and they get eaten. I have been a bit pre-occupied lately.
I was getting lots a few months ago then I think they are getting a bit cold or I just don't time it right.

I have some cuckoo catfish in with them, I really want the cats to breed so I can make some serious money...

Next job is to get a couple 4x2x2 aquariums into the shed so I can really watch them and dedicate more time to build up the stocks.
I am planning on separating the males ad females, getting them really fattened up so I can pick out some really good breeders.

I really want to get one (or two) to eating size too, so I know what they taste like. I would be great to have a renewable fish supply.