let me start by asking you to overlook my spelling, thanks.
here is a run down on ebb and grow... if you remove the the inside bucket and use net pots your roots will die! just like kitty said, but with that you can run air stones in the bottom. again advice from kitty is on the money. but the air stones should only be run with system in a flood cycle. if you run with that one inch of water you will kill the roots in the bucket, worm the water, change ph, or even coat your roots with nuttz at the same time as drying the nuttz on the roots. as far as hydroton it is garbage. cocco is good, but the stuff i have grown with is silica rock.. hands down the best medium i have ever used. my advice is dont rreivent the wheel
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