BIG FISH SYSTEMS · MODULAR TILAPIA FARMSPILOT · GROW-OUT · ALL-IN-ONE

STANDARDISED ENTRY POINTS · SITE-SPECIFIC ENGINEERING

Choose the scale. Then engineer the outcome.

Our farm modules give customers a clear place to begin. The equipment platform can be standardised, but the climate, building, water, energy and production plan must still be matched to the site.

Compare modules Start with consultation

01PILOTLearn the cycle

028-TANKMonthly rotation

03ALL-IN-ONEBroodstock to harvest

THE MODULE IS THE STARTING POINTFinal design follows site assessment, water quality, climate, power resilience, operator ability and the required harvest.

DESIGN BACKWARDS FROM HARVEST

Customers need options they can understand.

Many enquiries begin with a tunnel size or a number of tanks, but neither defines a viable farm. A useful module connects the number of fish, water volume, biological treatment, monthly stocking, feed, energy and working space.

These formats make the first financial and operational comparison easier. They can then be resized, duplicated or connected to additional production stages.

MODULE 01 · LEARNING PLATFORM

Pilot system

A compact, plug-and-play introduction to the tilapia production cycle. It allows the operator to work with breeders, collect and hatch eggs, learn monosex production and grow a limited number of fish.

1 breeder pond6-stage hatching & treatment unit2 CMES Plus grow pondsBroodstock & starter feed

Reference quotation: R98,580Reference only, based on a specific completed layout including delivery and installation. A new site is quoted separately.

BREEDER

HATCHERY

GROW 1

GROW 2

WATER-TREATMENT EQUIPMENT RETAINED

12345678WORK AISLE

STOCK → GROW → HARVEST

MODULE 02 · STAGGERED PRODUCTION

Eight-tank grow-out

Eight tanks support an eight-month production rhythm. Once established, one tank can be stocked and one tank brought towards harvest each month, giving a small farm a more regular product and cash-flow cycle.

Eight independent tanksCMES or upgraded filtrationOne cohort per tankMonthly rotation after establishment

Tank sizes: 2.4 m, 3 m or 4 mThe correct tank and stocking density depend on target fish size, biomass, filtration level, environment and operator skill.

MODULE 03 · COMPLETE PRODUCTION LOOP

All-in-one farm

A connected facility that produces its own eggs, monosex fry and 20 g fingerlings before supplying an eight-tank grow-out rotation. This is the smallest format intended to demonstrate the full commercial production chain.

2 broodstock raceways6 hatching positions6 hormone-treatment positions6 fry-to-fingerling tanks8 grow-out tanks

Broodstock to harvest fishComponent quantities are matched to the required grow-out stocking number, hatch success, grading and conservative rejection allowances.

01Broodstock→

02Egg collection→

03Hatching→

04Monosex fry→

05Fingerlings→

06Grow-out→

07Harvest

FROM EGG TO STOCKING FISH

The hatchery is where the production chain begins.

Broodstock are inspected, eggs are collected and incubated, and the resulting fry move through tightly managed early-life stages. These are practical photographs from the process—not generic stock imagery.

Tilapia fry developing in a controlled hatchery unit — **01 · HATCHING**Developing fry in a controlled, aerated hatchery environment.

Collected tilapia eggs and early hatchery material — **02 · EGG BATCH**Collected eggs and early hatchery material managed as a production batch.

Young tilapia fry in a nursery container — **03 · SWIM-UP FRY**Free-swimming fry moving into first feeding and controlled sex-reversal management.

Early juvenile tilapia under strong aeration — **04 · EARLY JUVENILES**Young fish developing under high aeration before grading.

Juvenile tilapia at different stages of development — **05 · DEVELOPMENT**Growth and phenotype become easier to assess as the juveniles develop.

Dense group of tilapia fingerlings — **06 · FINGERLINGS**Grouped juveniles ready for grading, selection and allocation to the next production stage.

Tilapia eggs moving inside a green hatching cone — **07 · HATCHING CONE**Controlled water movement keeps the egg batch gently circulating during incubation.

Tilapia eggs and newly emerging fry during hatching — **08 · EMERGENCE**Eggs and newly emerging fry visible together as the batch hatches.

Tilapia yolk-sac fry in early development — **09 · YOLK-SAC FRY**Early fry remain dependent on their yolk reserve before first feeding begins.

Female inspection→Egg collection→Incubation→Sex reversal→Fry grading→Fingerlings

WHY EIGHT GROW-OUT TANKS?

One tank for each month in the cycle.

Starting with 10–20 g fingerlings, a planning period of approximately eight months provides a practical baseline for bringing a cohort towards a chosen market size. Separating age groups makes feeding, grading, health observation and harvesting easier.

M1M2M3M4M5M6M7M8MONTHLY
ROTATION

THE BUILDING IS PART OF THE FARM

Same module. Different climate protection.

A technically sound fish system can still fail in the wrong thermal environment. Housing is chosen for the coldest operating period, not the best summer day. Explore aquaculture buildings and climate control →

WARMER LOCATION

Shaded tunnel

Galvanised tunnel frame, protective plastic and shade netting to reduce direct light and unwanted algae growth.

Lower capital · less thermal protection

COLDER LOCATION

SunTrap system

A more thermally controlled structure with enclosed entrance and heater room, intended to retain solar and water-generated thermal mass.

Higher protection · site-specific heating

REFERENCE FOOTPRINTS

Layouts already developed.

These examples show how tank diameter changes the building footprint, working space and overall investment.

COMPACT

8 m × 15 m

Eight 3 m tanks

Compact SunTrap grow-out module with a central working aisle.

Reference total R420,344

STANDARD

10 m × 20 m

Eight 4 m tanks

Approximately 124 m³ of grow-out water in the established reference layout.

Quoted to site requirements

SCALED

Two modules

Sixteen 4 m tanks

Two tanks can move through the monthly harvest-and-restock rhythm after establishment.

Reference total R1,415,024

Reference values originate from specific preliminary quotations and are not a current universal price list. No VAT is currently charged. Final scope, pricing and validity must be confirmed.

BEFORE A MODULE BECOMES A WORKING FARM

The site must be ready.

CUSTOMER / SITE CONTRACTORCleared and level siteFoundations and drainageWater supply and storageElectrical connectionBackup or renewable energyPermit compliance

BIG FISH SYSTEMSSystem design and manufactureTank and filtration configurationAeration and plumbing scopeProduction planningInstallation when quotedCommissioning and training when quoted

PLANNING OUTPUTS ARE NOT BIOLOGICAL GUARANTEES

Performance depends on temperature, dissolved oxygen, water quality, genetics, fish health, feed, stocking density and management. Heating, flues, fire safety, solar, storage and site works require separate professional sizing where applicable.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT STARTING POINT

What must the module produce?

Send us the site location, available footprint, water source, power supply, target fish size, monthly production objective and investment range.

Email your requirements Call 081 457 2891