Hello I would like some feedback on my setup, I plan to use a 150 gallon rubbermaid agricultural stock tank to create a aquaculture setup in my green room. I plan to start with 40 tilapia fry and raise them to nearly 2 pounds in 7-8 months. Here are my issues I would greatly appreciate bouncing thoughts back and forth with folks on here.
1. Filtration- Tilapia poop a lot, on the bright side the tolerate poorer conditions better than most fish. I was thinking of a DIY setup with a 55 gallon drum a pond pump and bio balls. But I came across this setup on amazon would this work for my needs? http://www.amazon.com/Fish-Mate-Pon...sr_1_6?s=garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1302046436&sr=1-6
2. Heating- I can have over a 50 degree difference in room temperature. My thought was I would use the 2 inch foam insulation board and create a fully enclosed setup, the top of which I can take off in order to feed the fish and when the temperature warms up. Was thinking I would put two 300 watt heaters in the tank to keep thinks nice and warm., tilapia like it nearly 80 and winters can actual get below zero in the green room as glass does not insulate well. The other thought was I would harvest before the really cold parts of the year. Will also need to regulate temperature the other way around as well, as it gets over 100 even during cold parts of the year in directly sunlight.
3. Water Chemistry- I only have basic knowledge here. I know ammonia and nitrites are bad. Nitrates are bad in high quantities right? The filter will convert ammonia into nitrites, and nitrites into nitrates right? I was thinking I could have a couple of 55 gallon drums cut in half with a pump pumping water into them and then back into the tank via a standpipe and in the barrels I would grow duckweed, to use the nitrates and to feed to the fish. I was also thinking I might grow some lettuce using foam rafts above the fish in nice weather.
4. Aeration- Tilapia live in high density and can stand lower amounts of DO but I will definitely ned to keep the water moving with the high stocking rate. I was thinking air stone and the amount of water pouring out of filter into the tank would keep things on the up and up?
Please tear apart as much or as little as you can would rather plan it our here than fail later.
1. Filtration- Tilapia poop a lot, on the bright side the tolerate poorer conditions better than most fish. I was thinking of a DIY setup with a 55 gallon drum a pond pump and bio balls. But I came across this setup on amazon would this work for my needs? http://www.amazon.com/Fish-Mate-Pon...sr_1_6?s=garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1302046436&sr=1-6
2. Heating- I can have over a 50 degree difference in room temperature. My thought was I would use the 2 inch foam insulation board and create a fully enclosed setup, the top of which I can take off in order to feed the fish and when the temperature warms up. Was thinking I would put two 300 watt heaters in the tank to keep thinks nice and warm., tilapia like it nearly 80 and winters can actual get below zero in the green room as glass does not insulate well. The other thought was I would harvest before the really cold parts of the year. Will also need to regulate temperature the other way around as well, as it gets over 100 even during cold parts of the year in directly sunlight.
3. Water Chemistry- I only have basic knowledge here. I know ammonia and nitrites are bad. Nitrates are bad in high quantities right? The filter will convert ammonia into nitrites, and nitrites into nitrates right? I was thinking I could have a couple of 55 gallon drums cut in half with a pump pumping water into them and then back into the tank via a standpipe and in the barrels I would grow duckweed, to use the nitrates and to feed to the fish. I was also thinking I might grow some lettuce using foam rafts above the fish in nice weather.
4. Aeration- Tilapia live in high density and can stand lower amounts of DO but I will definitely ned to keep the water moving with the high stocking rate. I was thinking air stone and the amount of water pouring out of filter into the tank would keep things on the up and up?
Please tear apart as much or as little as you can would rather plan it our here than fail later.
