Why not just fill the bucket?

I just did that, but hand watered for a couple days.
Works great

 

Keep us posted.
This is a nice simplifying way to germinate.

 

The power grower is the same as a waterfarm, just a different shape.. If you're not using the drip ring 24/7, it's just a bubble bucket.. The drip ring is there for a reason.. This is what's possible with a WF when used correctly..
General hydroponic waterfarm

 

If the roots don't grow into and fill the hydroton , you lose the atvantage those roots contribute to the grow, google the Scottyballs thread I listed.. It's the best thread I've seen on running this type of system.. The first 14 pages of that thread tells you all you'll ever need to know..

 

Wasn't questioning you choice, waterfarm or power grower, it's the same type of system. I happen to use WFs, so can only comment on what I use.. But seems to me, it's like comparing apples to apples.. Just pointing out that filling the hydroton with roots has it's advantages..

 

If the water level touches the hydroton or if the bubbles bursting and the water splash up onto the hydroton you run the risk of drowning your roots with too much moisture. There are a few other factors to consider but that’s the simple problem I see with raising the water level to the bottom of your net pot.

 

Don't think roots that are seeking the reservoir fluid, and then bathe in it, will be harmed by encountering it a bit earlier in the hydroton.
I've had wet hydroton plus sprouts in a top feed without problems.

 

Drowning your Roots ,, how is that possible ????
Water without oxygen ,, but that isn't drowning your roots , actual there is no such thing as drowning the roots or over watering ……...
Its more like you didn't have enough circulation or proper drainage .

Here is the issue when all the roots are out of the water is if you have anykind of pump issue your plants dies extremely fast , if the roots are in the water but doesn't have enough oxygen the plant will die slower giving the grower a little time to see there is a issue developing .

 

@Denverdave86 After looking at the GH Power Grower setup, it seems like not having enough dissolved oxygen would most likely not be the issue. What are your res temps, PH, and TDS?

@Headhunterpipes

I think you are confusing "drowning" with "asphyxiation" or "suffocation".

Definition of drown
intransitive verb
: to become drownedfell in the river and drowned chicken drowning in barbecue sauce drowning in paperwork
transitive verb
1a: to suffocate by submersion especially in water
b: to submerge especially by a rise in the water level villages drowned by the flooding river
c: to soak, drench, or cover with a liquid drowns her French fries in ketchup

Definition of asphyxiation
: deprivation of oxygen that can result in unconsciousness and often death​

I'm not entirely sure of the point you are trying to make here. Are you saying its better to run a DWC hydroponic setup vs an Aeroponic setup, due to the fact that if one malfunctions you have time to fix it? You are describing two different root problems. Plant roots exposed to air that has low RH will begin to dessicate (Dry out) and die quickly. Plant roots left in water without sufficient dissolved oxygen will suffocate and die, but YES at a slower rate.

Besides inaccurately critiquing my post, you don't offer the OP any helpful suggestions or insight.

 

I am saying when the plants ( indoor )
Get to a certain size and if the grow temp runs in hi 70s low 80's the plant will use allot of water

Mine have used up to 6 to 8 gallons a day and the average is 4 gallons per day.

Drowning your plants
Well tell me when to much water will drown your plants?

 

Something I have been trying to get everyone to understand is the plants can use allot if water on hot days .
If you have a small reservoir like 30 gallons for 3 plants in a rdwc system you can run the reservoir low in a day in a half .
Its always forgiving if you have a pump or bubbler issue if some of the plants roots are in water 24/7.
I leave town for 3 to 5 says at one stretch .
With small reservoirs I would need someone taking care of my plants every day.

Plus every rdwc system I have in operation is backed by another system .
I have a 350gph pond pump and a commercial fish tank compressor with two hoses/bubbliers per system.
If I have a power outage I have medical grade co mlm press oxygen tanks to aerate my rdwc system .
My point is I cover ever possible failure that most likely will happen.
No one wants to loose their crop just because they had to go out of town for 3 days or the have pump or compressor failure.
Or have a 24 hr power outage ..
My opinion is larger rdwc reservoirs give the owner operator a cushion in when you need to add water .