>400 bass in a half acre pond? Wow!
Actually, 1,000, worst yet. Yes, that's 2,000 per acre. Definitely, over the natural holding capacity. Next Summer when they cross the 1 pound point, this will be critical and careful management of the system are required due to the occupancy level way past the tipping point. I've met a guy who harvested 3,500 pounds of LMB out of a 1/2 acre, South of me here in Ohio. He was very careful in July-Aug season to watch for DO levels.
> have an expensive food bill when they get bigger
Yeah, I'm expecting a $1000+ food bill next year.
> and I am concerned you may go over the carrying capacity of the pond in short order as these fish grow.
Growth is an issue. DO levels will be very critical as they go over the 1/2 pound mark (about 10inches, this Fall-Spring maybe). That's my question. Where does this tipping point occur where what little I'm doing in terms of aeration collides with the feeding and growth oxygen demands.
> Is the pond aerated?
A very limited amount via solar right now. As reference above, and a bit off topic for this thread, clearly a major concern as time marches on. I've got plans to wire electricity to the pond in increase the aeration quantities and will posting elsewhere about that (I'm sure).
> What are your goals for the pond?
Aqua farming. Raise for food resales to specialty markets.
That's why I was interested in the first years growth. Feeding charts to size growth, gauge amount of growth. I assume the feeding will grow near geometrically doubling over some time curve until it hits some maximum growth value and levels off asymptotically. Reason why I plan to harvest prior to that (Nov 2012 is about 18 months.)
So that brings me to my questions:
What is expect growth rates in lbs/inches of LMB naturally vs farmed or managed raising?
Clearly, a farm trained LMB feeds differently than a natural, hence the growth is more pronounced. But what is that increase has anyone measured it? I've found papers which document natural growth in NC and MN, but not feed assisted or farm raised.
That was my interest in this thread. What growth rates are people observing (hopefully measuring), how are they feeding them, and where are they geographically/temperature season length?
Thanks!
Ken
