Actually i don't have an answer as to whether which clone will root faster, in the water or hanging above the water because my cloner got slimy (it had light leaks at the time) and I wiped the whole run out to clean it. Maybe its just my inexperience with hydro, but I've had nothing but problems out of the little bubble cloner.. I've gone back to rockwool.. but I keep the rockwool sitting in a tupperware tub so the cubes are easy to keep moist, best luck I've had so far with clones.