Tilapia Fish Tank Module Concept

Manny,

About ten years ago when I was still working in a semiconductor tooling company, I was really fascinated on tilapia farming and wish that I could have a fish pen on a lake (e.g. Laguna bay) so I could produce my own tilapia. The only thing that hinders me is the capital needed and since I was employed then I know I could not handle that business if I will still work and engage in tilapia farming. I know that it will cost much and the reason why I knew that  is, just last year my wife’s friend is selling a portion of their tilapia fish pen on Laguna lake which I think cost 300k pesos.

During the time (again, ten years ago)  I was thinking of a best way to grow tilapia without fish pen. I’ve seen on some television program, probably the Ating Alamin by Gerry Geronimo, that can grow and produce tilapia using plastic drums. I never got the chance to see the filtration and aeration system if it has any. Tank culture of tilapia is not much different of setting up an aquarium for tropical fishes.

Any kinds of fish need to eat and breathes oxygen so the water must have a good amount of oxygen. A good filtration is also needed to minimize water pollution caused by waste products coming from the fish and the fish food that settled on the bottom of the tank. Using plastic drums can be the cheapest and practical way of tank culture of tilapia. You only need to ad another drum if you wish to expand it.

But since the plastic drum have a cylindrical shape, the fish might feel restricted and can’t swim freely compared to a rectangular shape tank. Constructing a rectangular shape fish tank might be impractical specially if you don’t have enough space in your lot. If the material is made from concrete, it can also be impossible to relocate it in case you need to transfer to another place like plastic drums.

So I have thought of an idea to design a fish tank that is made of series of modules made from fiberglass. I had an AutoCAD drawing of it but I think I lost it already because many years passed by and forgotten where I saved the files. So I can’t give the exact details what I’ve designed then so I made just a graphic illustration on Photoshop today. I’m not an expert in Photoshop so I hope you can bear with the drawing. Below is my concept of the fish tank module made in fiberglass (See Figure 1).

That is only a single module of fish tank in case you are just starting. The main module is made from fiberglass bolted together with two side panels which are also made from fiberglass.

The module is designed for easy transportation and just in case you want to add another module, then all you have to do is bolt another module to your existing module to increase the water volume. See the multiple module below (Figure 2). This is just a concept to give you an idea. You need to design it a CAD software and know something about structural design to make a sturdy and effective fiberglass modules.

 

Multiple Tilapia Tank Module

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Comments (21)

  2. ilang layer ng fiberglass ung bawat panel kaibigan? pwede na da ang 1/4 in. na kapal ng panel? salamat sa ideya!

  3. sir about your cage tank that made of fibergass, matanong lang can you give me an address where I can order that kind of cage tank. gusto ko yong idea mo, me too am planing to have a backyard telapia farm. sana mabigyan mo ko kong sino taga ang nag manufacture at address. thanks

  4. Hello,

    I work as a technical support rep in Makati. I am planing to have my own tilapia farm in our backyard. Will resign from work if tilapia production is better. Im still in the process of gathering information and found your site very informative – thank you. I even signed up on with Ating Alamin whos conducting seminars about talapia production. Hope for the best and more power

  6. Thank you for sharing your knowledge to us, this is a great opportunity for me. I’m sure this will be manageable for me since I don’t have enough space and I’m working 24Hrs every other day as a Fireman, now I can work as a fisherman @ home to have other source of income. Again thanks a lot

  7. Thank you for the concept on how to develop and design a fish tank. I just resigned from work as a call center agent, and am planning to setup a back yard tilapia business. My idea is to put up at least 10 plastic rectangular containers (1 meter x 2 meters x 1.5 meters depth each) or circular containers (about 2 meters in diameter x 1.5 meters depth) for a starter and soon after would be expanding 100 plastic containers conditionally, if I would be able to master the “know how” in growing the tilapia fish. I was able to interview some tilapia growers but they use big fish ponds instead of plastic containers and got some very useful tips on how to grow tilapia. You are right about container designed tank, because you can move it anytime and anywhere. And besides, long term maintenance is low with regards to cleaning (using reusable filters through water recirculation) and oxygenization (using bubble machines-industrial air compressor). As compared to big ponds, you have to use big and expensive reticulating machines because of a very wide coverage area and have to use fertilizers to condition the pond. With regards to harvesting fish in fish ponds you must use hundreds of feet of fish net, while in fish tank, to harvest your fish, you only need small fish net on a hoop (about “12 to “15 inches in diameter). Monitoring your fish using containers with regards to health and growth measurement is very easy because it’s very accessible and you can monitor up to 100 percent all your fishes, and comparing to big fish pond, you can only do a random ratio check. With regards to disease control, big ponds have more risk compared to container tanks. Thank you and God bless.

    1. @erwin
      Thanks for your input. Since most of the bodies of water are already polluted, one more advantage is we can avoid “fish kill” that plagues fish farmers.

  8. your concept was good but tank itself should be circular with water flowing circular also so sludge wiil be collected in the middle for better waste management.there should also be a cone shaped hole in the middle plus drain.

  9. Sir Manuel,
    Thanks a lot to your response.Once I receive the confirmation email comes from TFE it maybe a great opportunity for me to start with this business.I loved to raised an aquarium fish,pero nang mabasa ko ang column mo, it’s really impressed me and I decided to go for it..
    again thank you very much!!! and more power to your business..

  10. Sir Manuel, I’m interested on tilapia farming in the tank. I have a question, in 1x1meter of tank wit a depth of 1meter,how many tilapia fish can accomodate on the said dimensions.
    I will appreciate very much if you will reply.Thanks and God bless

    1. @louie dela torre
      Maybe you should download the talapia cage culture ebook by clicking the banner above. The number of tilapia per cubic meter is also there although the procedure is cage culture. Is it aerated or not? you can increase the number if your tank is aerated compared to non-aerated.

  12. Dear Mr. Montala,

    I am fascinated with your concept of tilapia farming. I would appreciate it, if you would provide me more information pertaining to your vision. My partners and I are creating a plantation accompanied by a tilapia fish farm. Our purpose is to consume the water for tilapia and use the fertilized water to drench the ground where our trees are planted. The site is a starter to conduct our feasibility and to adopt the system on a greater magnitude. The land acquired is only 10 acres (4.6 hectares) and half of the property will be devoted to a tilapia fish farm. Since your idea is unique, it may provide us the probability we are aiming. You seem to be a sincere man and we’d like to acquire your expertise and perhaps provide some compensation upon reaching a successful venture.

    Your kind consideration may lead to a rapport that might benefit both of our goals.

    Salamat sa iyo.

    N8

    1. @Nathaniel Soriano
      Thanks for that wonderful comment. Actually my concept is for those who wanted to have a backyard tilapia farm with limited space. And the modules can be expanded incase you want to ad another module to increase the number of tilapia. I have very limited knowledge on structural analysis so I’m not sure if the design would be feasible.

  14. Tank Module Concept its good thanks for your sharing but if u have an idea regarding the concrete pond please give me details or method how to contruct and how much cost. thanks noel

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