Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Should I stock tilapia?

I have found out via testing in my personal pond (that way I don't have irate clients) that stocking less than 40# per surface acre here in Indiana will not control the algae in the pond. ALSO, if the algae that is already growing in the pond isn't killed off before stocking the Tilapia the Tilapia cannot eat all the existing algae AND the newly growing algae.

I completely agree with Bill C. If the Tilapia in the pond are eating too much of the things that you don't want them to eat, then they will be easier to catch. Feed more floating fish pellets, and use Stubby Steves as bait for them.

I do not see a downside to stocking them in a pond that has algae. For a 0.12 ac pond, I'd stock 5# of Tilapia with the fish being between 6"-9" in length, 6" being optimal size.