I do the 1" below the net pot like @HydoDan too. I always did my DWC in Rubbermaid tubs with 2 - 12" airstones in each tub so the popping bubbles keep even the bottom of the lid nice and wet. You do have an airstone in your bucket I assume?
Yes I’ve got air stones. But the net pot I used for this dwc bucket is a 2 inch because I had it laying around and I kind of did the whole dwc bucket thing at a random occurance. My other buckets I’ve got the full lid bigger Net pot. But since the 2inch of course isn’t as big and less hydroton all the roots are exposed towards the top of the bucket. Away from waterI do the 1" below the net pot like @HydoDan too. I always did my DWC in Rubbermaid tubs with 2 - 12" airstones in each tub so the popping bubbles keep even the bottom of the lid nice and wet. You do have an airstone in your bucket I assume?
When starting the clones in the tubs I used a turkey baster to suck up some of the water from the tubs to squirt into the net pots until roots emerged from the pots which only takes a few days if that. Once exposed the bubbles kept them wet until they actually were into the water.
