So from a seedling in a 5 gal bucket it reached it quick? I was thinking a seedling would take quite a bit of time to reach the bottom of a 5 gal and I might have to start in a smaller pot and then up pot into the 5 gal so the plant can reach the res strate away watering in from the tube and not top watering. I might try geoflora and see what they have in there range. Im just tryna simplify things lol sorry to be a pain.I don't follow your question.
I've found the roots from a seedling reach the water quite quickly, usually within the first week or so. For plants that I've converted from an all soil based pot, it took 2-3 weeks for the plant to convert soil roots to water roots, although you probably wouldn't have that issue if you used all soil throughout.
This structure should be thought of as a very effective watering structure, but that is independent of what you use for a medium. Buds is using MC? I believe, but it will also work well with an organic soil. But, either way, you still have to feed it with the stuff you normally would. If you used a Coots mix, or The Rev's organic mix you might be able to get away with just water if your container was large enough, but I don't think a 5G bucket would be.
I think the absolute easiest would be Geoflora and tap water which I think is what Emilya will use for her new SIPs she is building. No pHing, no fussing with worrying about chlorine etc.
But, lots of media will work. I have yet to find an account of someone who was dissapointed with their results using these things.