How to Raise Tilapia in Tanks Inside a Greenhouse

Tilapia are one of the worlds great "food" fish and provide sustenance to the world on a massive scale. Known for their good taste and widespread range, tilapia are an excellent choice to grow in green house tanks. Regardless if you're a seasoned breeder or a simple enthusiast, growing tilapia in a greenhouse tank can be accomplished by anyone with a little preparation.

Things You'll Need

  • 30-gallon tank
  • Gravel
  • Artificial plants
  • pH strips
  • Digital thermometer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place your aquarium into your greenhouse in an area that is neither in direct sunlight nor direct shade. Look for a room temperature range between 80 and 90 degrees F in your greenhouse, as this provides the most stable condition for water in the 77 to 86 degree range.

    • 2

      Place your aquarium in your identified location and fill it with regular tap water. Let your aquarium sit for one week to break down all chemicals in your tap water, such as chlorine, which can kill your tilapia.

    • 3

      Pour aquarium gravel onto the bottom of your tank and create a plain of gravel along the bottom. Dig your airlift filter ball into the gravel and wind it up a corner by the tank wall. Make sure your airlift filter can support enough oxygen for a 30-gallon tank, which can support up to four tilapia. Secure your plastic plants, which will be care free, into the gravel by their roots to provide your tilapia some areas to hide.

    • 4

      Attach a digital thermometer to your tank and ensure the temperature range remains between 77 and 86 degrees F. Check the pH levels of the water weekly to ensure the pH value is either 7 or 6.

    • 5

      You can either catch your tilapia in any size from the wild or purchase tilapia fry from a local fishery for a modest price. Feed your obtained tilapia hard pellets once a day, a pinch per fish. Scrub algae off your tank walls weekly with an algae scrubber to avoid buildups of algae, which are especially likely with tropical water.

    • 6

      Grow your fish until they are big enough to eat (at least 7 inches). Starting from fish fry, reaching this length will take about 16 months. If you plan to continuously keep tilapia, it may be wise to select some for breeding purposes to have new fish fry to grow.