Instructions
Find a suitable container and location for the amount of fish you would like to raise. A good rule of thumb is that the barrel should be about 1 to 1.5 meters deep and that there should be no more than two to three adult fish per square foot of water surface.
Install a recirculating water filtration system. Because the tilapia will be kept in a small environment, it is important to filter out the waste products.
Prepare the water. The water used in the tank should not be chlorinated, and the temperature should be about 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
Feed the fish any commercially produced food with a protein content of 35 percent to 45 percent. If the food is too big for the smaller fish to eat, it can be chopped into smaller pieces. Tilapia should be fed four times a day.
Check the weight of the fish on a weekly basis. This will determine how much food to put in the tank. In general, the larger the fish, the less food they need.
How to Raise Fish in a Barrel
In today's world of rising commodity prices and shrinking resources there is a lot of emphasis placed on the importance of sustainable living through growing your own food. Fruits and vegetables are often what comes to mind, but few realize the potential savings, convenience, and health benefits of raising your own fish to eat. When you purchase fresh fish such as tilapia in a local market, the cost can be quite high depending on how far the fish had to travel to get to you. Home-raised fish can be healthier than wild-caught fish because many lakes and streams today contain contaminants such as heavy metals that can have adverse affects on the people who eat them. When you raise your own fish, you can control the living conditions to ensure they are healthy to consume.