Our Story

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When we first found out that there weren't any dedicated filtration system made for home tilapia farming we were dumbfounded. How was that even possible?  A hundred pounds of tilapia make a hundred pounds of feces in only seven to eight months! Pet store fish filters weren't an option... Even the largest aquarium filtration systems  can only handle an ounce or two of feces before they become completely plugged. Industrial-sized filtration equipment costs tens of thousands of dollars. Was there nothing in the middle?

We consulted tilapia farming professionals and growers for answers only to discover the simple truth. It all comes down to money and profit.  The people who raise food fish, such as tilapia and catfish, in their backyards are primarily independent do-it-yourselfers. They are curious and skeptical. They educate themselves and find solutions. They don't buy into the pet store marketing nonsense. In other words, they are completely disregarded by filtration manufacturers as an unprofitable niche group.

Not exactly what we wanted to hear, but from a business perspective it made sense. Home tilapia farmers use livestock tanks and IBC totes, plumb their own systems and invent ways to re-purpose and re-use. Pet store manufacturers want to sell you a complete setup from aquariums to filters, from heaters to lighting, from water treatments to substrate and decorations. They can offer discounted aquariums and filters knowing that their customers will ultimately spend much more on peripherals.  Selling a purpose-built filter for home tilapia farmers doesn't give them the same financial opportunities.

We decided to make our own and for nearly ten years we bought, built and used dozens of filters learning from each one. By 2021 we had what we thought was a pretty decent filter so we reached out to Lakeway Tilapia, to get their opinions and suggestions. They liked our filter and offered to help fine tune its development. For two years, they put it through its paces. They used it in breeding tanks, nursery tanks and grow-out tanks. They made suggestions for refinements and in 2024 we patented our first filter.

We've created a filter that costs almost nothing to use and in doing so we came full-circle, back to our original question. Nobody else has bothered to make anything like this because manufacturers rely on selling expensive dedicated filter cartridges and short lifespan sponge replacements.

As you use your Home Tilapia Pro, we hope that you take a moment to reflect on the work that went into it. Nothing is superficial or there by accident. From the number of inlet holes to the size of the air escape and from the weight of the base to the length of the outlet, nothing is random. Everything was created with plenty of customization still left for you. And although your filter will work excellent right out of the box, feel free to experiment to your hearts desire.

Thank you very much.