Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
Shotgun01, Dan H, Stipker, LunkerHunt23, Jeanjules
18,451 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics40,899
Posts557,082
Members18,451
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 28,414
ewest 21,474
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,110
Who's Online Now
9 members (Freg, Jared015, Justin W, LeighAnn, Donatello, Theo Gallus, Sunil, homewardbound, DenaTroyer), 729 guests, and 217 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16
J
jdfish Offline OP
Lunker
OP Offline
Lunker
J
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16
I am involved in the management of a 100 acre lake in East Texas. We have a problem with filamentous algae along the shoreline and are considering stocking tilapia as a control measure. I know the tilapia will be a good addition to the forage base but the algae control is our main interest. Do they really work?

Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,939
Likes: 268
Moderator
Lunker
Online Confused
Moderator
Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,939
Likes: 268
Yes.

Tilapia are overwhelmingly reported to be very effective at reducing FA in ponds. Reading threads here at the forum, one almost gets the idea that the majority of ponds in Texas now stock Tilapia each year (it's quite likely a majority of the Texas PMs here at the forum do indeed use Tilapia).

Recommended Spring stocking rates for adults run around 5-10 lbs per acre, depending on the severity of the problem and whether or not the pond is fed (pellet-eating Tilapia consuming slightly less FA than fish in unfed ponds).


"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever."
-S. M. Stirling
[Linked Image from i.pinimg.com]
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,319
H
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
H
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,319
Last year I had Tilapia and not a hint of FA. This year I couldn't get any and my pond is full of it. I think grass carp will help keep it down if they don't have much else to eat.


In Dog Beers, I've had one.
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,794
G
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
G
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,794
 Originally Posted By: jdfish
I am involved in the management of a 100 acre lake in East Texas. We have a problem with filamentous algae along the shoreline and are considering stocking tilapia as a control measure. I know the tilapia will be a good addition to the forage base but the algae control is our main interest. Do they really work?


jdfish, the folowing photos are about the best answers I can give you:













N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds
Original george #173 (22 June 2002)




Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,474
Likes: 264
E
Moderator
Hall of Fame 2014
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Hall of Fame 2014
Lunker
E
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,474
Likes: 264
George I did not know you stocked flying fish !!

To late to stock them this year in NE Tex.
















Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,794
G
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
G
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,794
 Originally Posted By: ewest
George I did not know you stocked flying fish !!






N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds
Original george #173 (22 June 2002)




Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973
G
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
G
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973
what is that saying a picture is worth a 1,000 words. It still gets me mad with all of our FA probelms and GA DNR not allowing us to stock them.


Greg Grimes
www.lakework.com
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 904
Likes: 12
O
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
O
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 904
Likes: 12
We find that 90% of the folks stocking tilapia for algae control end up back again for tilapia the next year. It's a sign to us that they work most of the time. Stock your tilapia in late April/Early May to avoid possible late frost stress or mortalities. Tilapia stocked at 5-10 lbs/acre must reproduce and recruit high numbers of offspring successfully in order to give you the algae control that you desire, especially if the algae growth is significant and already established by the time tilapia are stocked.

Hope this helps.


It's ALL about the fish!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 235
T
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
T
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 235
For those who can't stock Tilapia do to regualations or because it is just too cold like up here in NY I would suggest that you try pond die.
We had a terrible problem with FA last year. This year my pond expert at catskill pond, Scott Trava had me use blue/black pond die. Even with the harsh drought we had this year we had no FA at all.

The theory on this is that he die reduces the light penetration enough to disrupt the growth cycle of the FA. For the less than $50 cost of the die per acre of pond size I would recommend you give it a try. I know we will use it again next spring.

It is non toxic and does not stain people or pets that swim in the pond once it is diluted.

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973
G
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
G
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973
Tuzz, I hope you realize that the dye that blocks sunlight to prevent FA also blocks the energy need for phytoplankton production. Thus you have greatly diminished the production of the base of the food chain. Good and bad in all it seems.


Greg Grimes
www.lakework.com
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 530
J
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
J
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 530
I have to also say the Tilapia definatly eliminate FA. I put 24 good size Blue Tilapia into the pond basically covered with FA. Maybe it also died, maybe the areation helped to but within 1 week I saw a differnce I would say 3 weeks it was mostly gone.

My surface water was 46 in the morning yesterday, around noon I went looking for them. There still alive.... I saw a few sunning themselves. They got very big some look to be at least 2-3 pounds. I am wondering if the ground water is warm enough to get them threw the winter? I have read Blue Tilapia handle down to 48 degrees. That would be great.


Joey
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,721
J
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
J
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,721
Joey here in North Texas my tilapia generally die after Thanksgiving.

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 473
B
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
B
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 473
I will add that my Tilapia have not made it past the 15th of December the last 2 years. When the water temp gets to 50 degrees it doesn't take long.

Joey, a most of the 6"ers I put in early May are now 16"ers that are pushing 3#s.


20 acres of trees & 3/4 acre pond.

"Home of the future Texas state HSB record for Private ponds"
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7
A
Fingerling
Offline
Fingerling
A
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7
I have used tilipia for algae control in NE Kansas. If you can get them stocked at the right time of year and at around 10 pounds to the surface acre, they work pretty well. They are a no go in Nebraska, but we may be a tad to far north.

Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 45
F
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
F
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 45
We did some work down in Brazil a couple years ago where we saw ponds wiped clean of vegetation by tilapia. They are pretty amazing.

At the same time, I wonder about the future of centrarchids in southern states that have feral tilapia. They scare me.


Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
Bob Lusk, GaryK, GrizzFan, PhotographerDave
Recent Posts
Happy Birthday Bob Lusk!!
by Sunil - 03/28/24 12:39 PM
New 2 acre pond stocking plan
by Sunil - 03/28/24 12:39 PM
1 year after stocking question
by esshup - 03/28/24 11:01 AM
Paper-shell crayfish and Japanese snails
by esshup - 03/28/24 10:39 AM
Brooder Shiners and Fry, What to do??
by Freg - 03/28/24 09:42 AM
Relative weight charts in Excel ? Calculations?
by esshup - 03/28/24 08:36 AM
Dewatering bags seeded to form berms?
by Justin W - 03/28/24 08:19 AM
Reducing fish biomass
by FishinRod - 03/28/24 08:18 AM
Questions and Feedback on SMB
by Donatello - 03/27/24 03:10 PM
2024 North Texas Optimal BG food Group Buy
by Dave Davidson1 - 03/27/24 08:15 AM
Freeze Danger? - Electric Diaphragm Pump
by esshup - 03/26/24 09:47 PM
Newly Uploaded Images
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
by Tbar, December 10
Deer at Theo's 2023
Deer at Theo's 2023
by Theo Gallus, November 13
Minnow identification
Minnow identification
by Mike Troyer, October 6
Sharing the Food
Sharing the Food
by FishinRod, September 9
Nice BGxRES
Nice BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, July 28
Snake Identification
Snake Identification
by Rangersedge, July 12

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5