API Best Practices

Hello, Optuma Community!
I am using Interactive Brokers’ API and, for a few things, it’s really a struggle. For instance I use Optuma for end of day data and IB for intraday. But I have never, ever had reliable volume data for intraday even though I can see it live on my IB screen.
Besides the obvious (e.g. getting the port number right!..), are there any best practices you guys have come across to make it work smoothly?
I’ll take any advice!