When planning your tilapia pond, first consider the number of fish you want to keep. The pond should be at least 3 feet deep. Calculate approximately 1 square yard of surface area for every adult fish. Look to locate your pond in a sunny area to enable algae for the fish to eat. A reliable water source free of pesticides and other contaminants is absolutely essential. Controlling water and food quality will be key to raising healthy fish. If you are planning a liner or other synthetic bottom, do adequate research to make sure the materials will not leach toxins into the pond. You may need to fill and empty the pond several times after construction to ensure it is safe.
Start with 5 to 6 fingerlings per square yard of pond surface area. If fingerlings are not available, 20 to 30 breeding pairs will be appropriate for a pond of 10 by 20 feet. Maintaining a balanced number of fish is important. Too few fish in the tank can result in territorial behavior, with the fish focused more on reproducing than feeding. Too many fish will create competition for food, resulting in stunted fish.
Ensuring water and food quality are the highest priorities when raising tilapia. A flow-through system using a natural water source is the best option for maintaining water quality. The water should be made to enter and drain without causing noticeable water movement within the pond. If using water from the garden hose, the pond will need a recirculation system the filters and aerates the water. Water also must be kept between 78 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit, requiring a heater in some climates.
A proper diet is key to growing healthy, good-sized tilapia. Fingerlings will need more protein, with less required as the fish grow. Tilapia will feed on algae and plankton that grow naturally in the pond. A fertilizer such as chicken manure should be added periodically to increase growth of natural tilapia food. Do not add too much fertilizer, as it will deplete oxygen level in the pond. Because tilapia will eat such a wide range of foods, there is considerable variation in supplementary feeding strategies. For the most part, supplementary feeding will rely on grains such as soybean meal and rice.