Comment

Comment by Richard Wyman on December 22, 2010 at 10:46am

I have eaten frozen Chinese Tilapia from Costco, Threw a bunch of it out too after a health waring on imported chinese fish a couple years ago.  The fish I ate this November were much better tasting, and I knew what they were fed and how they were cared for.  They cost me more than 2 dollars a pound, but seemed worth the effort and cost.

  In a commercial setting things must be profitable. Very difficult with most types of fish.  We will never be able to compete dollar for dollar on Tilapia, Catfish,  or Trout.  What we will be able to do is produce fish for our own table at not too much higher a price that we know is safe.  There may be exceptions, there always are, but most of us won't make much raising fish. We can sell our vegies, some fish and hope to make a profit.  Most rich farmers are that way from the value of the land and equipment, not the acual income they make. Most smaller family farmers went out of business years ago.  There may be some money to be made in the farmers markets, but I doubt anyone would sent their kids to college on the proceeds. Sahib thanks for bringing us this photo, we need to see the dark side to bring us to reality at times.

Comment by Sylvia Bernstein on December 22, 2010 at 8:25am

Nothing like a photo to drive a point home, Sahib.  Would you also post this in the Commercial group?  Thanks

Comment by Sahib Punjabi on December 22, 2010 at 7:50am

I just saw this at our local Sam's Club...6lb Frozen Whole Black Tilapias packet for $11.98. Yes it is from China. That is less than $2.00 per pound!

 

Please do keep this in mind if you are considering using Tilapia as your fish of choice in any Aquaponic Commercial Business venture (even if American Grown). I would suggest that you consider other fish such as Catfish, Trout, Perch or even some of the other "Niche" fish such as Barramundi.

 

Comment by Sylvia Bernstein on November 12, 2010 at 6:52pm

JD, be vary wary of adding salts into your fish water as plants are generally not tolerant to sodium.

Comment by JD Sawyer on November 12, 2010 at 11:35am

that makes sense. thank you.

Comment by TCLynx on November 12, 2010 at 11:31am

I only use it on occasion. Like for cycling up a new system or when adding new fish to the system or if I see a problem. Then again, I have catfish in the system that can't take much salt so therefore only on occasion and only up to 3 ppt tops!

Some people keeping tilapia or other salt tolerant fish will keep their system at a set salt level but then you wind up limiting the plants that will like your system.

Comment by JD Sawyer on November 12, 2010 at 11:27am

TC,
In regards to salinity, do you try to maintain a regular level in the tank between 1 to 3 ppt of salt or do you only use salt on the occasion where you observe stressed fish for whatever reason?

Comment by David Nabong on November 3, 2010 at 6:10pm

Is anybody using/ growing/ husbanding anything other than Nile Tilapia (O. niloticus) or Blue Tilapia (O. aurea)? I received O. tanganicae and O. esculentus from local Cichlid association and wondering is anyone has some experience with these species.

Comment by JD Sawyer on November 3, 2010 at 3:14pm

Quick update: The Tilapia are definitely in a happier place now since we last talked. I added 2ppt of dissolved solution on the 30th and had also recently added some planter pots to give them some spaces to chill. Everyone seems to have calmed down now and have settled in to their "place" in the tank. They are eating much better and are more active in a positive way rather than active with angst like last week. I also brought back in a little fingerling who spent a week in quarantine and he seems to be doing ok. pH has stayed steady at 7.2.

will keep you posted. thanks again for everyone's tips...

Comment by TCLynx on October 31, 2010 at 10:28am

Good Luck, keep us posted about your observations and how things work out in your systems.

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