Good question! Here's my take. Anxious to hear what others have to say too!Originally Posted by Aloha Don
#1 adequate light: If outdoors, choose a location that will maximize sunlight. If indoors, more artificial light is better than less.
#2 Choose a pump much larger than you think is necessary. You can always divert the surplus flow back into the FT for aeration.
#3 Balance your FT size, GB size and Bio load. Oliver's sticky posts on designing an AP system are an excellent source of info on this. Regardless of your starting size, you will always wish you had more GB space. Most people focus on the fish when they start out. (I know I did.) After a while, the produce you grow tends to become the primary focus of your efforts and the fish are relegated to a secondary concern - mainly as the nutrient engine that drives the plant growth rather than as a crop themselves.