==== ==== How to Master Aquaponics: A Primer http://tinyurl.com/7vkxvhe ==== ==== There are a variety of freshwater fish that you can stock in your aquaponic holding tanks. Before choosing which fish to raise, we suggest that you research which fish are best suited to the weather, temperature, and general conditions of your location first. Fish do not develop or grow identically. Some fish grow faster than others, and some are better suited for living in a closed-tank environment. Some freshwater fish do not reproduce in holding tanks at all. If you selected those fish, youd have to buy additional fingerlings after a harvest in order to begin the cycle anew. Todays discussion will cover the fish most commonly stocked in aquaponic systems: Tilapia Tilapia are categorized as an invasive species, but that doesnt mean they should be avoided. It just means that you have to be extra careful not to accidentally release tilapia into the wild to prevent this fish from competing with native fish species. (Tilapia can negatively impact the growth ad reproduction of native species.) Tilapia is a mild-flavored freshwater fish that can survive in holding tanks if some heating is given to maintain a consistent water temperature. Tilapia is a group of cichlids that can be found all over the world. Tilapia feed primarily off aquatic vegetation and can easily reproduce in closed systems. Tilapia that have escaped into the wild can reproduce hybrid tilapia if they are able to mate with other tilapia species. White bass A Midwestern species, the white bass is an excellent edible fish species that you should also consider stocking. Unlike the tilapia, the white bass is carnivorous and it can feed easily on small crabs and smaller fish. In the wild, a single white bass can lay as many 900,000 eggs during the active spawning season. No care is given to the eggs after the spawning. The adult white bass leave the spawning sites after the eggs have been fertilized. The white bass can grow up to fifteen inches, but the average size for this species is nine inches. The meat of the white bass is often cooked through smoking and is a crowd favorite in the Midwest, due to the fact that white bass is not hard to catch at all, especially during the spawning season.
Crappies Our third favorite is the crappie because of its delicately flavored meat and because of the fact that like the tilapia, it can adapt well to closed systems. Unfortunately, crappies (unlike other fish) need at least two years before they are able to mate and reproduce. Once the female crappie lays her eggs, the male partner protects the spawning site from intruders. It only takes ten days before the fertilized eggs are hatched naturally. Carnivorous by nature, crappies should be fed insects and small fish if they are kept in a closed system like a fish tank. Avoid stocking crappies with larger fish such as walleyes as these larger fish will actually prey upon crappies. You wouldnt want to deal with larger fish nibbling on your crappies.
==== ==== How to Master Aquaponics: A Primer http://tinyurl.com/7vkxvhe ==== ====