well its been a while and thought I would do a little update on my progress.

thanks for the comments and the tip of NGW - thats a good supplier!

I have (2) 5 gallon buckets going with a 3rd acting as a res. - bought a (water) 350 pro pump and a dual diaphram air pump.
I have a air stone in every bucket. Each bucket has one plant in a 6" net cup lid - fed solution by 1/4" line 3-4 times a day. I think the 5 gallon bucket is really the best for good root depth. Drain is 1/2" irrigation tubing. I will add another plant bucket soon.

Plants are monsters and I wonder if I should do 2-3 3.5" net cups per bucket instead. (any comments?)

I am using 1/2" irrigation tubing for the drain and would like to use something more flexible with a greater diameter for easier flow, and maybe some sort of a quick connect/disconnect that would easily allow me to move individual buckets from a veg system/area into a flower area hydro system. help me out with this one... anyone understand and have other suggestions, ideas?