Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi All,
Anyone in the coastal south California OC region or similar climate recommend an edible fish species and where to get them for my new 275 gal AP system. It's October and my FT temp is 62-65 degrees F. We have a some colder temps coming up over the next few months before summer temps start again but as I'm new I'm not sure what the temps will fluctuate at.

I threw a 300w heaters to my fish tank, all of my tilapia survived. I scooped mine out of the Salton sea. It gets much colder there.

Thanks Ronmaggi,
Despite what I read online, I'm hearing from several people including the pet store the Tilapia will survive at my temp range but just not grow so fast. Questions for you though: How many gallons are you heating, how much did the 300 watt heater increase your electric bill per month and what is your temperature running at.?

I now have a dozen feeder goldfish in my 275 gal tank and they seem to be doing really well at the 62-65° range. I have a source for Tilapia fingerlings at a good price so I'm contemplating just throwing them in there and crossing my fingers.

You are correct about the slower growth. See my thread to answer the question about water volume. Between the aquarium heater and space heaters in the house, it is hard to give an exact number to how much the 300w heater added to my electric bill. It is thermostatically controlled, so I have not actually unplugged it since I got it. Right now my temp is in the 70’s, still above the temp setting on the thermostat.

indoors our outdoors? if its outdoors dont even bother you are looking at well over $150+month to keep it in 70+F range. One 300watt heater will run 24/7 once the temp drops in the next few weeks that equates to $55+ a month. You will probably need two or three to keep tem in the 70 range so you are probably looking at $150. I'm in the same area and I'm going to just accept the slow growth over the winter. Tier 3 rate is 27cent per KW and Tier 4 rate is 31cent with SCE.

If you are keeping mainly gold fish those guys do well in almost any temp.

The trick is to not try to keep it in the 70's

My system is outside so it would be a constant and expensive battle with the elements until summer rolls along. I've been meaning to post some pictures etc, I'll get around to that soon.. I know of a APnr in San Clemente with a similar system with heaters. She told me, keeping her system heated in the low 70s added approx $100 to her electric bill.. You can buy a lot of fish at the market for $100 per month so heating it is not worth a fast growing fish supply to me.. I think I'm going to just put some in and hope for the best and reap the reward during the summer.. I'm interested in catfish too. Does anyone know where I can find some around here? Thanks.

There are legal issues with catfish in California.

"There are legal issues with catfish in California."

Really, I didn't know that. Like restrictions or we can't legally keep them here.?

What do you think the lowest one could get by with? I'm thinking about moving half my stock indoors and leaving the other half to fend for themselfs.

Mine went below 55f with no deaths.

OK so I got me some small Tilapia fingerlings about 1" and some are more like 1/2" fry. I asked her for about 30 but when she scooped them out, they were impossible to count as they're so small and wriggly. The other night I was able to shine a flashlight in the tank while they were sitting still on the bottom and I countered about 50 .. Anyhow the temp got down to about 58-59 the other night and they are all still active and seem to be eating a bit and doing well. I'm sure it will get a little colder as the winter gets a little frosty but I'm hoping they will survive through springtime. The fish have been in there for about a week now with the dozen goldfish a little longer. I tested for Ammonia today and it is still at zero. Any idea what I should expect with this amount of small fishes going potty.?

Yea, expect to have to be careful. The ammonia can get away from you fast. Not to mention the temptation to feed your new babies.

Quick update.

As the winter came in my water temps started to get into the low low 50s and I had a few tilapia fingerling die on me. They were also just hanging out in one corner of my tank and swimming very slowly etc. Anyhow to get by the winter, I built a small barrel system that I have placed in a sheltered area and got me a water heater. Within a day of this new environment, they were much happier and swimming fast like torpedos and eating well. I'm going to wait for my outside system water to heat up as summer is on it's way again before I put them back, but I will not be using tilapia again.

Meanwhile I found a company in El Cajon, CA San Diego County http://www.alpinefishery.net/ that sells Catfish fingerlings that will withstand our cooler temps. They also sell many other fish including Blue Gill, Bass, Koi, Shiners and all kinds of other fish that are suitable for our climate and our soCal coastal water temperatures. I got me 7 Bluegill and 6 Channel Catfish fingerlings that seem to be doing well.. My system is just starting to cycle now as the Ammonia is showing between .25 & .50.

Crossing my fingers I will get through cycling without any casualties.. If anyone could point me to a good thread or tutorial that I can follow in regards to "cycling with fish" that would be awesome.
Thanks

I thought cycling with fish was covered in the IBC's of Aquaponics. Anyway, just keep an eye on your parameters, and don't over feed.