I use hydrogen peroxide to clean my used containers. It's cheap. Pour a small amount in and swish around. No odor. You can also use it straight to rinse algea off roots. Won't hurt the plant. I suspect florakleen has H202 as the main ingredient.

I use the flexible air bubblers from walmart and the dual outlet air pump. So far no blockage. What's nice about the air pump is one side will still work even if the other side doesn't have anything hooked to it. No, the bubbler will not hurt roots. I tried using a pond pump and ended up destroying roots, that's why I had to go to the nylon stockings for protection.

So by having alot of failures, you will become a better grower. Yes, you can use smaller containers. I have clones floating in a kitty litter pan. Hydro is fun, but I still grow in soil until I can get all the bugs out of hydro.

Too bad overgrow is gone. Alot of pictures doing just what you described.