Ebb&Flo question / rockwool without hydroton?

Hi Folks! I'm glad to see the board is back online ... started to have withdrawls! :D

So I'm setting up my 2nd grow and I've decided to switch from Drip to E&F. I'm using a 3x3 tray and vegging in 6x6x6 rockwool block. My question is, can I grow directly in the RW without a bed of hydroton? I'm trying to avoid using the rocks because it's a pain to prepare and eventually clean.

I realize the roots need room to grow, but is a 6x6x6 RW block enough? If I *have* to use HT, what's the minimum I can get away with in a 3x3 tray? 1 50L bag?

Thanks, and it's great to have the board back!

(BTW, soon I'll finish updating my harvest from my first grow)

If you dont want to use Hydrotron then use a Bud Blanket.

I just went to the hydro store close to me cause they just moved the store. Anyway they are setting all thier stuff back up. They have a nice 3x3 E/F table and they were putting 5 inch net pots in it and 6x6 rockwool cubes just sitting in it. Nothing else so I ask and they do it to sell plant out of it. Some roots will come out but not too many. They said just don't jamb them in and the roots won't tangle. They had a hut set up with a 2x2 E/F and a grow bag setup with drip to waste.

Anyway you only need the hydrtron if you grow big and need to hold up plants.