i don't think you were horribly in errror.. i understand the short growing season for sure!
i've been reading more about ponds and such, and while there are some good ideas for ap, many things (like adding lime to raise ph, fertilizing a new pond to start algae bloom, then adding feeder fish then your predators over time to establish populations to make a pond more "self sustaining" are great for ponds..
i'm kind of working on my basement system, i may try to start a bloom in my large tank (almost 700 gallons), then add daphnia and scuds, then add minnows when the bloom starts to die off.. then add my perch (or trout or whatever i decide to grow out)
after the feeder fish are cleared out, i'll be using pellets, and maybe supplemental feeder fish i am working on raising (rosy red minnows)
so it's kind of like a pond, but usually you have fewer species..
i guess i'm saying just be careful with anything you add to an ap system..
you could cut your cycle time down if you over winter any fish indoors, squeeze your filters out into your gb's when you start your water flowing..