This is a two bucket rdwc [no air stones, or submersible water pumps] ,with a reservoir and optional resupply reservoir.. You can raise the water level in the buckets in the beginning to keep the hydroton as wet as you want it... You can even use an air stone if you feel the need.
This setup will work with only a single air pump.. A small air pump will pump enough air to work a single GH pumping column.. You avoid the ton of heat you can get from a big air pump and a bunch of air stones....... The gh pumping column can be used with/without the drip ring since it's under the lid....
This is made possible with the use of a standing column of water in the grow bucket... This water column is connected directly to the reservoir, so the water level in the water column is the same as the maintained water level in the reservoir... As the water is pumped into the grow bucket from the standing water column, gravity returns it to the reservoir to keep the two water levels the same... A GH pumping column moves about 5-6 gals an hour so the pump out and return flows stay the same.. No flooding or uneven water levels in the buckets..
All the parts for the standing water column were bought at HD... The pvc column is thin wall 3/4, a trimmed down tomato cage is used for a scrog screen support... Simple zip tie works to attach any kind of stiff screen... I used a rubber coated 2x4" screen.. Don't try to bend the tomato cage legs out at the weld, they'll break every time. Bend about 3/4" above the weld...
Leave home without worrying about water levels while you're gone...