Some embodiments provide a recirculating aquaculture system for aquatic life. The system includes a culture tank, a plurality of sensors configured to control parameters in the system, a variable speed pump configured to circulate water through the culture tank, and a controller in communication with the plurality of sensors and the variable speed pump. The controller is configured to prioritize the plurality of control parameters based on a hierarchy list, select a highest priority control parameter, determine potential actions for each of the plurality of control parameters, and select a highest priority action based on at least one of the hierarchy list, the highest priority control parameter, a current power consumption of the variable speed pump, time of day, feeding cycle of the aquatic life, and resting cycles of the aquatic life. The controller is also configured to execute the highest priority action.
