-Fish: Location is very relative. Melbourne weather has extreme variables so Silver Perch and Tandanus Catfish.
No heating required. They are the most variable temperature tolerant and local natives, and good eating!.
My annual temp ranges between min 7c to max 32c.
Grounded (below ground level) water is good for cooling in summer, shade on the grow beds and tanks/water in summer. That the hops are ideal for shading in summer.
-I flood and drain. Constant flood works too but consider its aeration and oxygenation to the roots that is the superior for growth. Auto syphons (bell syphons) work the best for results as it lets air to the roots. For them to work well and reliable is determined by having an over powered pump. You get great results and usable bonus effects from having an oversized pump. Like the excess pressure released to spray over the surface of the tank aerates and oxygenates the water, and it sounds awesome the sound of constant running water, its a purity too. But close sized or undersized pumps will fail and frustrate etc. I think that's were most the complaints about auto syphons come from. Don't skimp on pumps and it works like clockwork for better more efficient results in the long term.
I have seven auto syphons and rarely ever get a stuck syphon and its a simple fix when I do. 4+ years into it now it gets easier and easier.
If you want the Rhizome to grow bigger each year into monsters then give the roots 50cm square and 30mm deep. That grow bed of mine is 30mm deep gravel but as I said its growing into a mound now. It could house four but nothing else etc. The other 3/4 of my grow bed I do grow assortment of veggies, Kale, Strawberries, cherrie tomatoes, Pac Choi, broccoli, whatever. I don't think there is a limit on growth size really just above ground space constraints. I'm pretty sure I could grow four of those pictured hop examples out of one IBC growbed. But again the above ground growspace is the real issue. Mine was really compact and I'd like to have spread it out for more and I would have done even better, for just one hop.
Give some pics if you can. I'm happy to share tips or learn your different set up progress etc.
Think that one square meter grow bed space can spread over 4 square meters area and up to 2-3 meters high as well.