Growing in Pea Gravel hydroponics

I am sorrta old school, and the last time I grew there was no such thing as clay rocks and hydroton nor all this fancy grow media, we grew from clone to maturity all in pea gravel , flood and drain 2 times per day. We use 3.5 gallon buckets , 2 of them stacked with holes drilled on the inner bucket and the lower bucket hooked to a pvc drain and flood device. I have not seen anything like my water level device on forums since I got back into hydroponics, has anyone grown in pea gravel or seen a water level siphon like this before?
thanks

It's an inferior media. I understand that people have grown with it with no issues, the same way people have grown in sand. Superheated shale, or other pumice-like rock are simply better any way you slice it. They hold not only water but air as well. Their irregular pattern and size creates little air pockets throughout the root zone. Most are also inert.
Personally, not a fan of any these methods using any type of rock as the media, and prefer DWC. By far the Grail of hydro. Lots of ways to grow successfully though, so not here to clown on other methods. Give the newer rock options a try sometime.

Thanks for the input,. I value the experience of other growers, I have so little money into the gravel bucket set up that I may just ditch it before I plant a clone in it. I am watching with great interest a DWC of another member of this web site, , originally I wasnt sure how to heat the water in a DWC as I live in a cold place, and a fish tank heater would touch the roots if placed in the same tank , but I am seeing DWC set ups that use a resevoir under neath with a circulation pump, this may work for me. I could place the heater down below,