The aim of the current experiment was to examine the economic efficiency, growth, and feed costs of the Nile tilapia subjected to different levels of areal feed inputs during the production cycle. Four feeding strategies were employed; the control treatment included continuous feeding of 8 grams commercial diet/m²/day for 155 days. T1, T2, and T3 included feeding corn at 1.5, 3, and 5 % of the biomass, respectively for 60 days, followed by feeding commercial diet at 4, 6, and 8 g/m²/day for additional 95 days, respectively. Data of daytime net primary production (dNNP) among treatments nearly balanced nighttime community respiration (nCR) values. The similar average of dNPP and nCR values recorded in T3 treatment tanks indicated that the feed input of T3 treatment was approximately the maximum safe areal feed input limit without affecting oxygen demand. Daily algal production in rearing units constituted approximately 40% of total combined natural and artificial food available for fish in the control and T3 treatments during the growing season. The feed conversion ratio (1.12:1) and the daily weight gain (0.77 g/fish/day) were significantly improved in the control treatment compared to all other treatments (P<0.05). Consequently, it is recommended to feed Nile tilapia at 8 g diet/m²/day when rearing during the production cycle in order to obtain acceptable growth with higher economic returns.