new to rdwc, veg question

Hey all, I just recently built a rdwc setup.. I have a question with veg, when the plants are small (I grow from clones I cut). I have 8" net pots and using growstones at the moment (may switch to clay). I have the clones in root riots and put them into 3 x 3" grodans, and that into the netpots. I have the water level just below the bottom of the net pots in each container. Question is do I top feed until the roots make it into the water or do I raise the water level so the grodans are able to soak up water?

Also, once roots reach the water you can stop top feeding?
thanks all!

Do Not Raise The Water Level, that would probably drown the plant or cause rot issues depending on how high you raise it, either way there's no need for that.

I started with a Top Fed system and learned quick it was more of a hassle for me than not. I ended up drowning a lot of seeds by using the Top Fed. Personally I say loose the Top Fed and just keep your medium moist, not soaked, until your roots reach the water. The bubbling from below will also keep the medium, growstones or clay, moist but just make sure you keep your root riots a lil moist until roots reach water by just pouring a little PH'd water on it. Once your roots reach the water there is absolutley no requirement of the Top Fed, your roots will drink the water below and the bubbles will keep it oxygenated. Pretty sure Top Fed is used to supply additional nutes to the plant but tons of folks do without it, I found it way easier to deal without, one less thing to worry about.

In my experience the growstones vs clay wouldn't have changed anything for me because the plant didn't use that medium for anything other than stability to stand up in the net pot. I guess it helped maintain moisture in the phase of the roots reaching the water as well, but clay or growstones would do the trick. I'm no expert by any means but my plant sure looks fantastic.

I figured just pouring ph'd water over once or twice a day would be sufficient until the roots reach the water, just wanted to see what others do. Ohh and I have decided to skip the grodans and just plant them into the clay or grow stones in the root riot.

Thanks!

I top feed for a week, week and a half before turning on the pump. At least with hydroton which I find isn't very "wicking". Once roots are showing, just bubbling splashes them enough but I run the pump as well and then off they go!