The orange things (lol) are expanded clay pellets called Hydroton. They are lightweight and ideal for hydroponic gardening. Drip systems are run by a fountain pump you can get at any wal-mart or home depot. Mine turns on 3 times a day for 15 minutes. I use a medium sized pump so the drip is a pretty fast drip and very constant. Some like 24/7 drip but not me. I dont see how that much water could be beneficial for healthy root growth...