Originally posted by Bob Lusk:
At some point, the mass of predator fish (unless they are properly harvested) has to overeat the existing food chain... That principle holds true whether we use tilapia, threadfin shad or Kibbles and Bits.
Bob,
Thanks for that elaboration. I was having a hard time understanding a view that Tilapia, in this context, are any different from artificial feeding or Kibbles and bits or the use of just plain old regular BG. The Tilapia enable one to reach the point you describe much faster and when combined with a program of LMB removal, I believe one can reach a viable sustaining level of much higher biomass of predators than otherwise might be achievable.
I wish there was some data on cumulative effects of Tilapia and the resulting correlation to annual Tilapia stocking rates (declining rates after BG "saturation" is reached and algae control established through clean pond bottom)...I'd like confirmation of what I'm seeing or even refutation. My small number of ponds certainly does not represent a significant statistical sample. Nevertheless, I'm pressing on with the hypothesis that a declining stocking rate of Tilapia after BG "saturation" and algae control will not adversely effect the pond.
