Trout or Talopia

[Dennis Brooks]

Living Southern California with an outside IBC tank. Should I raise trout or talopia?

[FriendlyAquaponics]

Aloha Dennis

Last I checked, the only tilapia species that were even legal in Southern California were mossambicus, or Mozambique tilapia. What temp does the water get down to at night, on your coldest winter nights, and I can tell you if tilapia will work and be happy. Aloha, Tim "The Friendlies" in Hawaii

[Dennis Brooks]

That is correct my talaria choices are limited. I can heat the tank and keep the temp above 70 degrees. But I wonder if the water will get to hot for trout in the summer. I think I would rather raise trout but am concerned about summer temps.

[Glenn]

You might want to contact the state hatchery near Fillmore in Ventura county. If your climate is similar then you should be able to raise Trout or other fishes just  as well. They offer fingerlings and fry to the public and schools and should be able to advise you  on availability scheduling etc.

 

[Dennis Brooks]

Thanks for this suggestion I will do that.


Glenn said:

You might want to contact the state hatchery near Fillmore in Ventura county. If your climate is similar then you should be able to raise Trout or other fishes just  as well. They offer fingerlings and fry to the public and schools and should be able to advise you  on availability scheduling etc.

 

[FriendlyAquaponics]

Here's a YouTube video that has a guy feeding Rainbow trout in his aquaponics system (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlKWpWIn358); it has a water temperature probe that read 76 degrees F, WAY over what the "experts" will tell you trout feed at. My gut is, keep the temps between 68 and 78 for tilapia, and 58 and 68 for trout, and you'll be fine. Additional problems with trout may be:

1. They may work GREAT in the wintertime and allow you to spend less on insulating and heating your greenhouse, but what happens in the summertime?

2. If your water is colder than around 60 degrees or so (the "experts" argue about this also), your nitrifying bacteria will be less productive and you may see effects on plant growth from decreased nutrients in the system as a result. Also, if you're considering any kind of a commercial operation, look at the sale prices for both fish; the feed costs will be similar for both. Aloha, Tim "The Friendlies" in Hawaii

[Dennis Brooks]

Thanks for the suggestions!


FriendlyAquaponics said:

Here's a YouTube video that has a guy feeding Rainbow trout in his aquaponics system (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlKWpWIn358); it has a water temperature probe that read 76 degrees F, WAY over what the "experts" will tell you trout feed at. My gut is, keep the temps between 68 and 78 for tilapia, and 58 and 68 for trout, and you'll be fine. Additional problems with trout may be:

1. They may work GREAT in the wintertime and allow you to spend less on insulating and heating your greenhouse, but what happens in the summertime?

2. If your water is colder than around 60 degrees or so (the "experts" argue about this also), your nitrifying bacteria will be less productive and you may see effects on plant growth from decreased nutrients in the system as a result. Also, if you're considering any kind of a commercial operation, look at the sale prices for both fish; the feed costs will be similar for both. Aloha, Tim "The Friendlies" in Hawaii