Tilapia is one of the most popular choices for aquaponic farmers, due to their durabiilty and how tolerant they are of less than ideal water conditions. Because these are fairly easy fish to raise, tilapia are especially common choices among beginner farmers. There are three kinds of tilapia that are commonly found in aquaponics systems. Nile tilapia are omnivorous freshwater fish from Africa, and are happy on a diet of phytoplankton, insects, and/or larvae. These tilapia reach full maturity between 6 and 7 months, growing between 1 and 2 lbs. Blue Tilapia take longer to reach maturity, growing to between 3 and 4 lbs in 3 years. Blue tilapia are especially resistant to cold temperatures, and can tolerate water as low as 47°F. Mozambique Tilapia weigh up to 4 lbs once fully grown, and reach maturity within a year. Thse are an especially tolerant kind of tilapia, able to survive in poor quality or saline water.
