Thanks steiconi. Since I am new to this, thought I would start small. I am not a big meat or fish eater and, if successful, would give most of the fish to my family. Wow, you do have a big setup, which might be the norm to most, but compared to 110 gallons, 2500 sounds huge, lol!

You can get a rubbermaid stock tank, 100 gallons for about $100 and depending on the size of the pump a small one that is for a pond, not a fountain from Home D is $60 or so. Find out how many gallons per hour the pump is and if it is a magnetic drive or??? What material the pond is made of and get a price estimate on google.

I couldn't eat the fish either. I grew up on a farm and we always had 3 or 4 calves one of which was to be supper the rest went to friends and family. They had names like Hamburger, Pot Roast, and Steaks. I think my Mother did that so we wouldn't know who we were eating and every time we called them we were reminded they would be supper some day. The pig's name was always Sally and we always ate the boy chickens when they got big enough to crow. Such is life on a farm.

Thanks frankielynnsie. Funny about your calves and their names. They always say don't name your food, but of course, we always name them, e.g., chickens! I felt the price of $180 for a container, pump and filter was good, especially since I priced each one separately.

You can always have goldfish and pond plants if the Talapia doesn't work out.

I already have a half-whiskey barrel with goldfish :-) BTW, I know about raccoons! In the past, they destroyed my waterlilies and got my fishes. I now have a heavy fence-like panel with chicken wire laying on top of that pond. A neighbor gave me some panels that I believe were for an animal crate.