Comment

Comment by TCLynx on May 27, 2012 at 6:59pm

Don, I don't care how much fish tank you have really, how much and what kind of grow beds do you have?  I need to know how much grow bed/what kind in order to figure out how much filtration your system will supply for the fish.  You should always stock according to your filtration capacity, not the amount of water or fish tank.

IF and only IF you have 1600-1800 gallons worth of media filled grow beds, then I would recommend 80-90 (you might get away with 100 but definitely make sure you eat some of them before they get over 1 lb) channel catfish for your system  If you only have 800-900 gallons of grow bed media, then cut that stocking in half and only get 40-50 fish.  If you have even less grow bed media, then figure out how much you do have and only stock about one fish per 20 gallons of grow bed.  I would also recommend the added aeration for the system as we are heading into the hot season and warm water doesn't hold as much oxygen so an air pump is a good safety measure, as well as the fact that the fish will eat more if the aeration is good.

Comment by Ron Thompson on May 27, 2012 at 4:58pm

Dan - are you pumping air or relying on natural exchange through your system? Is your goal to have lots of fish to eat or just use cats in your system because of their temperature tolerance?

I have found cats to need higher oxygen levels than my system can exchange and therefore I added a 120lpm air pump into a diffusion disc.

However, I happily defer to TC - she is the catfish expert.

Jim - Use feeders only if your going to be away for a week or more. As TC says, they introduce a host of issues that can be avoided by hand feeding. As a longtime aquarist, fish can easily go a week without eating, so if you miss a day it really isn't  any huge issue.

Comment by Dan Ponton on May 27, 2012 at 2:25pm

Just checked on by water quality and it appears my system finally cycled.

ammonia = 0

Nitrates = 0

although my ph is still high, about 7.5. I added a little more vinegar so lets see what happens.

I am thinking about calling florida fish farms and seeing if I can get fish tomorrow.

I have about 800-900 gallon tank.

How many catfish should I get?

Comment by TCLynx on May 27, 2012 at 11:32am

Automatic fish feeders are all problematic especially for use out of doors.  Most feeders tend to leave fish feed lodged or wedged and need regular checking or stirring.  They also don't keep moisture or bugs out and if there are rodents around, that could be a problem too.  Most of the dog/cat feeders are not adjustable down to the second and would over feed the fish in many situations.

Vibratory fish feeders are noisy.

And all automatic fish feeders carry a risk of not checking on the fish closely enough to make sure you are not over feeding them.  If temperature changes or something goes wrong, a fish feeder won't notice and could easily keep feeding and kill all your fish.  There is also the danger of messing up when you set the timer (am-pm thing feeding the entire bin of food cause you were a little distracted when you adjusted the feeder last evening or whatever.)

So, I recommend using extreme caution or not using the automatic feeders at all.  However, if you absolutely must, here is what I carry.

Ergo Systems

Comment by TCLynx on May 20, 2012 at 10:31pm

tank is on the small side but maybe 20-25 catfish.  If you wanted to do just bluegill, I think you could get away with 60 of them.  With such a small number to start, probably easiest to do just one type of fish this first season.

Comment by John E Windsor on May 20, 2012 at 3:22pm

Thanks TC!

I'm using an IBC tote, 260 gallons, with 4 IBC grow beds. I was thinking we could get 25 catfish or use a combination of bluegill and catfish.

Comment by TCLynx on May 20, 2012 at 1:29pm

Channel Catfish are harder in cooler temps.  I recommend a 300 gallon fish tank for them though since they do get big fast here in FL.  If you have a smaller system I'll say get you some bluegill as they are good eating and can take the cooler temps too.

I've had all three types of fish, I feed them all the same thing, Aquamax 4000 or any other high quality floating feed designed for recirculating aquaculture.

You can get channel catfish or bluegill fingerlings from Florida Fish Farms in Center Hill FL be sure to call them and keep calling till you get some one or they call you back.

(352) 793-4224

9684 CR 705, Center Hill, FL 33514

Comment by John E Windsor on May 20, 2012 at 11:14am

What about catfish? They are hardy and can tolerate cooler temps, right? What do they eat?

Comment by John E Windsor on May 20, 2012 at 10:51am

My system is now cycled and I am ready for fish. I wanted to use blue talapia, but now I find out I can't get all-male blue talapia. If I get the hybrid all-male talapia am I going to need a permit in Central Florida?

Maybe I should now consider using a different fish.

Comment by Kenyon James Hopkins on May 12, 2012 at 9:22am

Has anybody studied the nutritional qualities of Love Bugs (Plecia nearctica)? My Tilapia seem to love them and I have a seemingly endless supply of them right now.

 

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