Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I'm not sure if this was answered but here is my perspective. With a maximum stocking density of 1lb of fish per 5 gallons of water, and a harvest size tilapia of 1lb minimum - this all is based on adequate solids removal and biofiltration - it takes about 9 - 12 months to reach harvest size with adequate feeding.

Therefore if you want one fish per week x 52 weeks is 260 gallons of water (an IBC tote size).

I like my fish over 2 lbs for harvest so it takes a full year plus to reach that size. I keep about 40 tilapia in a 275 gallon tank with a 35 gallon RFF (solids removal) and 200 gallons of growbeds. I harvested 10 last week that were 2-3 lbs. The 30 left will get bigger until I need to harvest again. Meanwhile there are no fingerlings in that tank as they eat smaller food / tend to get eaten by bigger fish / the big fish get all the food. So I have the next generation in a 2nd IBC with a 100 gallon growbed waiting to be transferred to the main tank after I harvest the bigger ones.

I have purchased small quantities of fingerlings on Craigslist locally, or at a local tropical fish wholesaler. Craigslist is cheap, wholesaler is expensive. Bes source is either Lakeway or Whitebrook Farms. I prefer the latter and have very good quality and survival rates from them.

Thanks John

This is just going to be a 20-gallon aquarium and first one, then two 13 gallon grow beds. Probably stocked with a pair of goldfish. Soon after starting this thread I realized that I just wasn't ready for a big enough set up to harvest tilapia.

Any opinion on the dechlorination question?

I don’t think you need to boil your water. I’m not certain that would remove chlorine anyway. The water that is in your tank now will have off gassed the chlorine by now. Any more water you need to add you can just fill some buckets and let it sit for a couple of days.