Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help Tilapia College Project

I am in need of some help, I have already spoken with some of you and I want to thank you for your help thus far. To the point, I am doing a college project on self sustenance, centering around aquaponics. This concept seems to come back to Tilapia as the basis for the bioload. While goldfish, carp, brim, etc will work, I have followed suit with the Tilapia. The catch is, I need to build a working model of this system. And am having problems finding 20-24 Tilapia. I have a 320 gallon indoor tank to hold them in, so space isn't all that much of a problem. I have called several hatcheries, and am not having much success, I don't need 1500 of them, which for many hatcheries is the minimum. I am new to this site, but am in need of some direction. I am located in Ft. Worth. If you can help I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks

Keep searching the site. It seems as though someone here had them UPSed from a hatchery.

I'm not sure exactly what your project is but Midas Cichlids many of the same desireable traits as tilapia (eat about anything, taste good) but are much more attractive. From my experience they are a little less temperature and water quality tolerant. Just thought they may draw a little more attention than a drab colored tilapia and are probably available at pet shops. They will coexist with tilapia just fine too FYI.

You may check with a University near you, they may be willing to donate some to your project.

Bubbles, I have Tilapia fry about an inch long that I can send cheaply. If you're interested, click on my name and send me an email.

BTW, Welcome to the forum!

Call 1 800 687 6075. That is the Pond Boss office and see if they have any ideas. Ask for Bob Lusk.

Another thought is that Trent Lewis (www.Pondmedics.com) has stocked them in a lot of them in metroplex municipal water gardens and water treatment facilities. Try Trent at 972 334 0104. Some of the municipalities ought to be able to donate some.

There ought to be a way to get some. They will start dying around here pretty soon.

Where are you going to school?

Already called Pond Boss Office. They advised me to post here, as well as checking with a hatchery not far off. But the hatchery too is a dead end. I have emailed Rainman, and hope his solution works. Also will check with Mr. Lewis tomarrow. Thanks for all your help.

Highly recommend the tilapia from rainman.. not only are the fish great, he's great to work with.

Will also look into the Midas Cichlid. Not familiar with them at all, but will explore the possibilities. If Tilapia aren't an option, I would prefer Yellow Perch or catfish if anyone has some than we may look at that route. This project has gotten me hooked on this stuff. Come spring I hope to have something much larger in actual production. Thanks again.

Bubbles -
I am really interested in hearing your project progress. Keep us posted would ya?

I too am growing Tilapia. I'm planning on "playing" with a small aquaponic setup next summer, but for now they all reside in indoor aquariums. They grow FAST and eat like pigs.

You might want to consider adding Australian Redclaw crayfish (some refer to it as freshwater lobster) to your Tilapia project. They work out really well together, and you can gain a much better total output by raising them together. Polyculture, when managed correctly, can provide much better results than monoculture setups. Redclaw are YUMMY too.

Best of luck!