1st Attempt at Hydroponics.. Need Help

[kargren]

So I am trying to grow ephedra in my home and have 7 seedlings already started as potted plants but they are not growing well at all and I am getting fruit flies so I am trying to build a hydro system that will hopefully make them grow a bit better with no fruit flies.

The system I am looking at is a single storage tote as the main holder with a 4 inch pvc pipe in the center with small holes drilled in the last inch of the pipe to let water back into the pipe. In the pipe will be a small submersible water pump to push the water back up into drip rings around the plants.

I am going to rig up some plastic tubing with small holes into a mesh to cover the bottom of the tote then use a air pump to constantly pump in air to help aerate the water. Maybe get a 2nd one and connect it to the drip water to aerate that as well.

What I am wondering is if I put 4-5 inches of gravel or lava rock in the bottom of the tote then vermiculite for 5-6 inches above that to hold the plants. I am thinking of only getting the water to the same level as the gravel this will let the vermiculite drain out into the gravel in the bottom.

So do you think this system will work as described or will I just be drowning my plants?