DWC..what size net pots 45 gallon reservoir?

Okay this will be my first attempt at DWC or hydro of any type, I have GH Eurogrower that Im going to convert into DWC I think! My idea was to build a simple lid so I can save the one that came with it for resale if I decide I don't like this set up. I have a 4x8x6.5 foot tent, running a 1000w MH/HPS with decent ventilation and carbon set up. This is a 45 gallon maximum capacity reservoir approximately 12 inches deep 4x2 feet. Any idea of what size net pots/number of plants may be the best way to maximize this unit, I was thinking 3 air stones with a decent air pump would do the trick? Just looking for suggestions based on experience, I was thinking 4 large plants or 8 small to medium sized because the soil ones I have growing now got a wee bit taller than I had anticipated.

I would use 3" or 5" net pots x8 plants in two totes. Run two 1000s or 600s I'm each 4x4 part if the tent. Veg for 2 weeks and flip. Training them to grow outward to use the entire footprint. Good luck.

I have 6 plants in a 3' x 2.5' tote and it can get quite crowded. I still put 6 in and pull two of the smaller ones then just cover the empty net pots with foam discs. It took a lot to pull out a plant lol. I was always vegging for 21 days typically but in my case letting them go a bit longer seems to increase yield exponentially. Height will be an issue for you I think, vegging might be cut short Th accommodate that, strain dependant.

Plywood wrapped in B&W poly makes a good quick lid. I made one for a single plant in a 27 gal tote. I was able to wrap mine so there was almost no cut's on the underside. Use actual duct sealing tape, not duck tape, to make the seams almost waterproof.

I run 2- 2" dia x 4" long stones in everything from my 5 gals( 3 gal of solution) buckets to my 27gal tub( up to 15 gals of solution) anything from a newly rooted clone to one large flowering plant. I have a 900+ gph air pump to support my whole room usually running anywhere from 8-12 of those stones. I've never seen any issues i could say was air related. Keep res temps under 72, otherwise DO level start to really drop and bad pathogens can really take off.

Plant numbers depend on size you could do 4 smaller plants per sq ft or 1 larger one, but I personally try to plan around an absolute minimum of 3gals of solution per plant in flower, for me that seems to be a good size to buffer against any crazy ph/ec swings and gives me enough res size i can let it go a couple days without looking at them if i have to and know they are ok. So for 45gals I'd do15 plants. Maybe where it's your first time try the 6 or 8 to start and get a handle on it.

The only problem I foresee is your width at 2'. If plants are side by side they will be pretty crowded, but training can fix that. Also two 600 is what I run for a 4x4 area, two 1000's would be tough for me to cool.

3 inch

^^^^ that's what I use as well. The only thing I was concerned about was light getting to root zone through the hydroton but only because a few years ago when starting hydro I bought the big ass balls lol. I cover them with neoprene discs now.