The key to hydro is getting lots of air and nutrients to the roots. Use a plastic bucket about 12 inches across and 8-12 inches deep. Get about 1.5-2 feet of aquarium tubing per bucket. Use a hot nail to melt a hole in the side of the bucket right above the bottom. The nail should be smaller than the outside of the tubing so that the tubing fits tight into the hole forming a good seal. If you have access to volcanic cinders fill each bucket and rinse well, otherwise use the expanded clay pellets designed for Hydro.

Set the bucket on bricks or a shelf about 12 inches off the floor, just high enough to be above the height of a one gallon plastic water bottle. Mix 1 tablespoon of nutrients into one gallon of water.

Take the aquarium tube and hold the end above the top of the bucket while filling the bucket with the nutrient solution. Then put the 1 gallon bottle of nutrient solution on the floor below the bucket - and insert the tube from the bucket into the bottle and allow it to drain.

Water several times per day filling the bucket and draining each time.

That's the basics and I guarantee this is 2 times better than any soil.