Hydroponic Rubbermade growbox possible?

after reading this thread, rubbermade grow box setup

i have decided to do this. but i want to modify it a little. Instead of planting the plants in pots and setting it on the bottom of the tub, could i put down a layer of clay pellets and use a rockwool cube to start my plants in?

it would be an ebb and flow system and i would use a third rubbermade tub for the resivore and a small pump to pump it up into the base of the growbox. i would probably use 3-4 inches of pellets as that seems to be the norm in an ebb and flow try system. the only differance is my tub would have alot deeper sides vrs a small try sitting on a table, and there would be a lid to cover the sides.

then the top tub would mate to the bottom by a few holes drilled through each tub and a small bolt sticking through to act as a pin. i would also use some foam weatherstripping to seal the space between the 2 boxes to keep light out.

lighting would proably consist of 8 bulbs in two 4 bulb fixtures. i was looking at using 8 24w bulbs with a small UV tube florecent on top and maybe 2 small tube florecents close to the base of the plant shining up so the lower branches get a little more lovin.

run a passive intake a few inches above the clay pellets and an inline blower sucking air out from the top and pushing it into a preexisting air exaust outlet.

any brainstorms or ideas to make my setup even better would be much appriciated as i would like to start building this in the next few weeks.