Hello everyone. I am gardener (urban homesteader) in Northern, CA. I am researching aquaponics and I plan to learn as much as I can and build a system in the very near future. I have been told by my wife and two daughters that our rabbits need a new hutch built before I can start a new project such as aquaponics . So as soon as I get that done I will hopefully start on a fish farm for my backyard. We currently have rabbits (Pets and fertilizer) and seven chickens (egg machines). I think the fish will be a great compliment to what we have so far. I have a few general questions to start. This may not be the right spot for these questions but here goes and I will move them if needed:
1. I keep reading about breeders in a seperate tank. If you buy males and females (Tilapia) won't they breed in a tank anyways, like they would breed in the wild? Do you have to have specific "breeders"?
2. Does anyone know a source for tilapia fingerlings in Northern, CA? I have seen a few in San Diego, but I would like to find some closer if possible.
3. Does an aquaponics system need constant circulation. Do I need to have the pump running constantly?
I am sure I will have more questions as I plan out my system. I think I have some pretty good ideas, but I would like to bounce them off you guys who have experience with this.
Thanks,
Wayne