Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

15 new tilapia mixed size up to about 3" installed 5 days ago tonight. No floaters, they seem active and no apparent problems. I offer them daily the same food they had at the place I got them, but no feeding happening so I scoop it out after @ 10 minutes. The water pH was matched to their source water and has zero ammonia, zero nitrites, pH 6.5 now. Temp 67F. Highly aerated with air stones, venturi and all the agitation that pumping/siphoning/SLO-ing can produce. It does have high nitrates, between 80 and maybe 160. I'm assuming the no-ammonia is because they're very small fish and their output (particularly when fasting) is modest enough that the cycles system scrubs it quickly).

Is 4.5 days a long time for newly-installed fish to be acclimating and not feeding?

Could they be eating something else? Maybe algae?

Not much algae in there, newly cycled system.

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Hey, at least your system is not getting shocked with an overload of ammonia. Some fish just take a little while to get acclimated. I know it is taboo to say it is okay to leave the food in your system uneaten, but I do. Tilapia can be timid. The tilapia in my indoor system takes much longer to eat. But the next day there is no uneaten food, just fish poop. So I know it has gotten eaten. Just make sure you don't have a buildup of food.

Thanks Ron. I actually have left a couple small feedings in there as an ammonia trickle. How many days of hunger strike before I should start to worry/do something different?

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About a month... Tilapia are hardy.

OK, I'll dial down the worry routine . They are exploring more than the bottom finally but when I loom overhead still bolt for the corners.