The broccoli plants I grew were about 4 feet wide, as well as tall. I have no doubt they would have gotten bigger if I wasn't getting low on the Flora series nutrients, and just used miracle gro until they were to far gone. I can't see a plant that size being easy to lift off the top of the bucket to do nutrient changes, and/or other maintenance. Yes can could have a drain plug, but you would still need to take the plant out to clean the inside of the bucket. I had 4 broccoli plants in 5 gallon buckets, but as a drip system with a 18 gallon reservoir. Between all 4 plants I would need to add 6-8 gallons of water each day back to the reservoir just to get the water level back to where it was. The system had no leaks, and it wasn't even hot yet because broccoli is a cold weather plant, so I grew them over winter. If I forgot to add water one day, the pump would be running dry the next day. So each plant would be drinking 1 1/2 to 2 gallons of water each day. Assuming you had 5 gallons of water in the 5 gallon bucket, that would be at least a third of the water per day. You can add water through the top each day, but the water level fluctuating that much will cause the nutrient strength (EC) to fluctuate quite a bit constantly. I wasn't expecting them to drink that much either, or I would have gotten a larger reservoir. Your analysis of oxygen saturation point in water ignores the gradient effects of the depth of the water and the distance from the roots. I don't think so. First I'm only talking about water less than 2 feet deep, probably only 1 foot at most, so the gradient effects of the depth of the water should be minimal at best. Also I'm not talking about non moving water. Even if you don't recirculate it, using a high volume air pump (you can get for about $100) and evenly placed air stones will supply both circulating water, as well as replace oxygen used by the plants. That will also provide actual air to the roots. That's how a typical water culture system works, and what I'm talking about. I don't think providing an even supply of sufficient air bubbles to the roots of a 12 foot long, by 2 foot wide container is a problem. But regardless of the water depth, if you don't have a way to sufficiently replace the oxygen used by the plants, your going to have a problem. Even if you do recirculate the water, I would still want a good air supply to the roots. Recirculating the water just adds the added benefits of being able to help oxygenate the water even more with falling water, as well as much easier nutrient maintenance.

They don't need that much light, especially if you don't mind waiting two months. Use fluorescent, it is safer indoors, you can put the lights on top of the leaves without worry and the HID supposedly looses power over time. It is cheapest only if you get fluorescents from the hardware store. Dont get compacy fluorescent. Get a residential t8 if you can, a two lamp 4 foot system should cost 17-20$ without the bulbs. 8$ if you go T12 which is just an efficiency loss of about 20%. Start simple, buy one or two lights, try it for two months. Good luck.

Look, I have done my own tests as well - but with pepper and tomatoes seedlings instead. I was that much disappointed by the results that I gave up for good. I was planting one group during a ideal "fruit period", and another at a random (actually unfavorable) day. Those were even seeded later but grew that much better from start. Even after repotting both at vavourable- versus unfavourable days, my "randoms", still lead the race. At that point I was not even interested in some future development of both groups. Actually I finished eliminating most of the "moon seedlings", just because they were the weakest! And don't anybody tell me now that they would have more tomatoes at harvest times, because my "random" Oaxacan Jewels were doing perfectly fine... But still, I trust my friend's results with bolting salad. Though, unfortunately I do not plant much salad, and haven't tested this yet. Actually I have a suspicion here; people do not like partial results and "unfinished business". So they tend to make up- and spin some full story around a partial knowledge and truth, - instead of accepting it as what it actually is. This is so common. I'd rather pick up- or even buy -a few good advices and facts instead of getting brain washed with a whole doctrine comes along with it. Unfortunately most people are not interested in single facts that haven't got the necessary references and expanded background story that goes with it. Same as most people will not go to a restaurant that has only one perfect dish on it's menu. They always want the whole enchilada, even if half of it would be pure c.r.a.p. :-D Actually you only need to understand how things evolve and why they sometimes become contradictory, - most of the time debating is useless. If I find a perfect dish in some restaurant and also discover that most of the others are not of my taste, I will not argue about the menu with the Chef either. I will rather order that fine dish only and enjoy it!

Hi hydroterra , are you Howard M. Resh, the author of the book Hydroponics A&Q? The above text is page 36. Isn't that a copyright infringement, in case you are not the author? See link-> Here is a link that might be useful: Hydroponics answers and questions