Started building my system

[keith_r]

one thing to be aware of if you are using pond water (especially in a pond that is 14years old) would be that you could introduce parasites into your system that are not beneficial..
the point isn't to get the algae growing, but most folks do go through a "pea soup" phase in the early stages of the system, but covering the ft, and making sure that plenty of oxygen is being added will get you through that phase to when you can actually start feeding your fish
while an AP system is similar to a pond, there are some major differences... read lots before you start running water

[MRowsh]

Yes, I have worn myself out reading and reading! Reading time has gotten too old now. It is time to put up or shut up for me.

The pond I am talking about had 5 over flow pipes, one 16 inch diameter, and the others are 8 inch diameters. As we speak , water is flowing through all of them. So, it is stream fed pond, also there is one spring about 10 feet below surface that fed the pond. But during some very dry summers, most of the water evaporate, except the 7 deep holes I made in it with a full size backhoe.
The minnows survive in the holes.

[foodchain]

1400 gallons is a good start, I have found the larger systems are more stable. But if you need to make adjustments with a parameter it does take a lot more, and usually costs more to do with larger systems. Big systems cost big money.
BUT they are much more stable. One concern I have for you, is temp. I spent a few years in NC, and I don't recall it being warm enough in the fall, winter, spring to support Tilapia.
1400 gallon + as you have to account for heat loss in the grow beds, etc is one hell of a heater.

IF you greenhouse it, you are now limiting yourself on growable square footage. And increasing setup costs.

Why not use the 1/2 acre pond you already have? That's already cycled, and has fish in it....Build your growbeds off of that and run climate appropriate crops.

IF you don't like the minnows, introduce other fish. It's not your pond size that's limiting your options here.

[foodchain]

Different pump manufactures are sometimes label, sometimes design. There's piston pumps, centrifical pumps, etc.
Which one is best for you depends on how much head pressure you need, flow rate, what electrical supply you have, and budget.

Make your FT, if you go that route shallow, with huge surface area. This will allow for greater gas exchange. IF you go deep and small surface area you may have to supplement DO. Escpecially if your putting 300 tilapia in there and intend for them to reach maturity.

1400/300= 4.6 gallons per fish. Now, my tilapia are pushing 12-15 inches. Let's assume for round numbers 10". 4.6/10 = 0.46
You are going to get into trouble here. Tilapia make babies fast.

[MRowsh]

Well, my fish tank is done now. I insulated it real good. Also I have a water heater for winter time.
Here are few pictures.[attachment=2:qxns6hyx]EPDM for FT.JPG[/attachment:qxns6hyx]

[attachment=1:qxns6hyx]EPDM is inside 1.JPG[/attachment:qxns6hyx]

ZRight side platform is done for grew beds.
[attachment=0:qxns6hyx]Right Platform 2.JPG[/attachment:qxns6hyx]

[MRowsh]

Fish tank is finished. Platforms to hold the grew beds are done. Now I got to build the grew beds.[attachment=0:1myjsfi4]AP_Platform_Progress__5.jpg[/attachment:1myjsfi4]

[MRowsh]

A little more progress.

[attachment=0:367ig7ne]Grew Beds build 15.jpg[/attachment:367ig7ne]

[MRowsh]

A little more progress made.

[attachment=1:2eflp2zj]AP GB Progress 5.jpg[/attachment:2eflp2zj]

[attachment=0:2eflp2zj]Grew Beds build 15.jpg[/attachment:2eflp2zj]

[CruelSun]

Great looking project!

Will the grow beds get any direct sunlight?

Will you be adding lighting?

[MRowsh]

They will get direct sun light mornings and afternoons. I have 12 LED lights, 2 per grew beds. I have red that LED grew lights (red and blue LEDs) works real good.
So, I will light them for about 6 hours per day. Each light is 8 watts, for total of 96 watts for all 12 of them.
Here is some more progress.

[attachment=0:2vhl79eg]GB No 2.jpg[/attachment:2vhl79eg]