Hydro Drip System - Any tips?

Don’t answer questions here much at all but you struck a nerve with my wheelhouse here👍. #1. Not really. Minus varying different sizes I’ve found it to be generally the same across most brands. Its water retention properties are limited regardless so, your application and feed frequency will matter much more in this system. Don’t get stuck on brands and bullshit. It’s a expanded clay. #2. In a system such as this - it’s similar to dwc in terms of fluctuation sensitivity; finding the feed frequency sweet spot is learned through experience with it. Given its new to you - I’d start with about 4-6, 15-30minute cycles a day and monitor growth progress. I doubt very much you’d go wrong or have detrimental plant growth in this window of cycles each day so it’s a good place to start. #3. Yes - always aerate any standing solution if you can. Even a small stone in the rez is better than none. Oxygen is an extremely important element for any plants roots and this is the way to get/maintain that in your solution. You can get away without it on DTW systems but it’s a requirement for pretty much any recirculating hydro system. #4. Now ur talk’n my language. Simple answer is yes. Adding a filter to hold debris and medium from getting into the rez (and thus clogging up your pumps and distribution lines) is a requirement for most other mediums like coco and purlite. Hydroton - probably unnecessary. Id recommend paint strainer bags and have used them for years. Cheap, disposable and available on Amazon in a wide range of sizes. As per #1 and #2. Above, this is one reason why I use 100% purlite on my recirc grows - it holds moisture longer than pebbles which allows for lower feed frequency and theres an element of security in terms of seedling stage light penetration that you simply can’t get with hydroton. Purlite and coco are certainly more forgiving mediums than straight hydroton in pretty much every method. That said - purlite needs to be rinsed pretty well before you throw it in the system and it’s always preferable to top layer some pebbles anyway to cut down on algae growth created by the lights. Id recommend you run purlite and filters before hydroton. That’s just my personal preference learned from my own beats. #5. Probably and there’s nothing at all wrong with that. If anything, it’s simple insurance if your drip lines clog up or your pump breaks. #6. Five weeks veg. In 2ish gal. Pots will be just fine in a system like this. Although if you’re not running autos I’d cut it back to 3-4 weeks (essentially the start of veg maturity) for the sake of speed and efficiency. Lastly - I didn’t read, nor do I care about any of the other commentary. These are the correct answers to your questions because I’ve been building these kinds of systems for myself for 3 years now with exceptional results. They do require familiarity through experience so you can expect that you’ll have to make tweaks on future cycles to realize it’s full potential. When you get it up and running and if you have any other questions or troubleshooting issues, just DM me👍.