In the second year of AT (After the first Tilapia stocking), I began to notice decreased early season algae and also the need for early season algae control with chemicals. The third year of AT continued that trend. This year, I am completely chemical free for the first time in several years since the fertilizer disaster....achieving one of the prime objectives of my personal pond management approach.
I wonder if others have similar observations...a lot of variables involved of course, but I see a definite trend toward less and less pre-season algae and need for chemicals. Why would I care? More on that in another paragraph.
Another observation I've made in successive years of AT, is that my BG populations have improved in every pond every succeeding year.
Ok, what is the significance of all this in addition to the benefits of reduced chemical dependence and increased BG forage?
This tells me I can reduce stocking rates of Tilapia each year and still get their full benefits. That is some cost savings, but the real savings may come from reducing the stocking rate to where it can be easily sustained by overwintering a few fish. Thereby, becoming a completely self sustaining chemical free pond system...something I strive for.
This year, I reduced stocking rates in one pond to 2 pounds per acre and will observe results. Next year, I plan to reduce to two or three pounds per acre in all ponds and measure/observe results. If I can get my needs down to well under 20 pounds total for all the ponds, I believe I can easily overwinter that many and achieve the self sustaining goal that I strive for.
I hope I've explained this observation and resulting hypothesis so you can see where I'm trying to go with this...it may not work, but then again it may and may result in a completely independent and self-sustaining system.
Any of you who have had Tilapia more than a couple of years see anything similar? Or is this just more mad scientist thinking?
