Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Tilapia eating machines

It has now been 10 days since I put 170 Tilapia nilotica averaging 1 lb. apiece in my 13.5 acre pond. The previously very heavy filamentous algae mats have broken into small pieces, averaging about 2 ft. square, and the total amount of floating filamentous is now falling at about 10% a day. About 50-60% of the total load is gone in 10 days!

Admittedly, I can't prove that the Tilapia are entirely responsible. I had a fairly heavy bloom (not quite enough for my upturned hand to disappear when inserting my arm up to the elbow–what I call the "Auburn Arm Test" or AAT (so it will sound scientific)–but close to that heavy. In past years, a good pea-soup bloom didn't seem to reduce the filamentous load, just to slow its increase during the summer. So, I think it's the Tilapia.

I have heard the opinion that Tilapia don't really effectively filter feed, but I have seen many sources which say they do and that their gills have plankton rakers for this purpose. Does anyone know if nilotica, specifically, filter feed and, if so, how efficient they are at that. In a perfect Southern bloom (I know you Yankees don't want soupy water any more than my wife does, but I love it), how much of their dietary requirements can filter-feeding take care of? I have never had and do not have any higher plants in the water except buttonwoods.
Lou, the Tilapia Lover

p.s. Aside from everything else, I enjoy just seeing them cruise along in the shallows.

I recently placed 50# of tilapia in my pond and have had a similar result. I wasn't sure if it was due to the tilapia or something else because I didn't know what to expect. Within about two weeks the amount of algae was about half of what it had been.

James where did you get the Tilapia? We are over in Muenster and I'm just curious if they are readily available around our area.

Buzz,

Most Tilapia suppliers are out of Tilapia for the year. It is best to contact your local supplier in the Jan/Feb time frame so you can be assured fish delivery in April.

Guys,

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth...whatever that means.

Tilapia eat algae, period...thats why your algae is disappearing...if not much else is available, they eat it in prodigious amounts.

With such voracious appetites, and the amount of algae that is consumed, what happends when they run out?

It sounds like they are eating machines and could clean a small pond in a matter of days. When the algae isn't as abundant do they have other food sources?

3z3k3l,

They are indeed eating machines...last year I had them in a small pond which had only algae for them to eat...no predators, nothing else. They made that old, stale, stagnant pond absolutely sparkle by the end of the season...and when they all died, I found that they were all very small compared to other ponds which had lots of variety for them to eat and also predators.

Park a lawn mower by the pond and they will mow your grass just for the clippings...

I'm trying to figure out how to continue feeding the Bluegill.....without feeding the Tilapia?

I've gone to feeding every other evening instead of everyday. I feed almost year round, 2-3 pounds, once per day, in the evening.

My Tilapia have only been in the pond for two weeks so far. They have eaten half of my algea to date.

A Woody, what ML said in jest might work - lure the tilapia to one area with grass clipping, and then feed the BG in another. Just out of curiosity only (tilapia are not legal in GA), where might someone find some tilapia near the GA/AL line @ I 20.
RME

rmedgar, I had one hell of a time finding Tilapia in North Alabama. He grows a limited amount. Unfortunately he is sold out already.

Thanks, Woody. I'll keep looking. Just trying to find some for a friend that lives 3' over the GA/AL
line. Or grow a couple in my barn for a research experiment. Or, let the school kids use them for a science project. No wait, I just want to put them in the part of my lake that is in Alabama. That's it.

I got my tilapia from todd overton but you might give pond boss headquarters a call in Whitesboro.

It's true that the Tilapia are having an effect on the amount of algae, but isn't it also true that the increased temperatures are likewise decreasing some of the algae?

jimmy wheels,

I've observed the algae in my area for several years now and have found that in very dry hot years such as this one, the algae is the worst. In fact, it will totally disappear right after a good rain in summer...something which we haven't seen in a long time. This summer has been optimum for algae growing in my area (very dry, no rain in months)...and with Tilapia, my ponds are completely algae free...now pondweed is another story for me.