How did your system turn out? I'm Dave over in Lee's Summit. Been at this awhile building custom systems in garages and basements. If you ever need help, please let me know....

Hi Jack.  Some quick internet research would answer these questions for you best because they all depend entirely on what you are growing.  Once you have a configuration then this site is awesome for starting discussions about aquaponics specific topics.  What you are looking for is more general plant info.

I just don't grow plants that have complex (i.e. male/female) pollination requirements, like squash and melons.  Your night shades - tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, etc - all pollinate just by being shaken.  Lighting depends entirely on what you are growing.  Think about the time those plants typically mature.  If it is a cool, spring plant like lettuce they don't need much light, but a mid-summer plant like a tomato needs a longer day length

Hi Jack.  To answer your questions, I grow in a greenhouse all year round (I'm in Colorado).  Lots of folks do this in their basements and garages if they don't have a greenhouse or a year round growing climate.  You've come to the right place to learn!

Some things I found you can plant outside without critters attacking is, sunflowers, any beans, squash. garlic, and onion. If you  plant any of that in your grow beds in your basement, once they are growing good you can put them outside and they won't be eaten. You can use the whole top from a sunflower and bread it and fry it as a side dish to meals. I forgot all the nutritional value but there is some good stuff in it, lol

I think it's a good idea to put in your basement, or any contained area. I have a serious rabbit problem myself. They think my earth gardens are a buffet for them. I forgot to remove a small scrap of board from under a corner of my green house and I was chasing a rabbit out of it first thing this morning. Another reason I think it may be a good idea to have an inside place is because there is a serious problem going on in Nebraska with that nuclear plant surrounded by water from the flooding surrounding it. This could cause a high level of radiation in our soil and moving in the air as well soon, if not already. I know Aquaponics is not put in the ground, but I do like to pass this info around because people should be aware of it. A lot of AP gardeners are also planting in the ground like myself.