I was gone for awhile did not see these posts. To answer your question Venturis are one of the best if not the best aeration possible depending on variables.

Venturis are expensive but you can make one from simple around the house fittings. If you get the shape right it will draw air in through a vacuum and mix it with the water in a microfine bubble mist. The solution gets aerated instantly and roots can take in nutrients more quickly and in larger amounts.

The venturi is seperate from the bucket, however it is part of the suckit bucket system or setup; very good question too. The airtight seal allows for roots to hang in air aeroponically and still be in 100 % humidity so as not to die. The flood and drain times are increased to bring in more air to the dome.

Clarification on flood and drain. My system turns on 5 times for 15 minutes a night however sometimes more do to dome efficiency increases. My system uses a proprietary fitting called an autosiphon which floods the bucket every 3 minutes while pumps are on; it is an auto-flood self pulsing type effect. To answer the question for your particular setup you should flood 4-5 times during lights-on. Its not dangerous to flood more, just that many say it does not make a difference because the plant feeds mostly during lights on.

Please let me know how it goes I would love to see how it works. I have had a hard time actually writing up a DIY on some of these because I am selfish and lazy but I am going to try do something after I release my next movie.