uarewotueat said:

the bottom of the net pot should be below the water level so the medium is constantly wet.

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no!

When you first start your DWC the bottom of the net pot should be an inch above the top of the water.

At first, the roots will not have access to the nutrients in the container so you'll have to pour them on the base of the plant until the  reach far enough to touch the water.

The reason you shouldn't let the netted pot be at all submerged is because you want the roots to search for those nutes!

Also this will encourage nasties to grow in your netted pot. Whatever you use as a medium is like a sponge, you don't want to give those nasties any kind of environment to grow in!

Eventually those roots will find where they're supposed to be and all will be well.

hightimesreader said:

And it helps to add oxygen to the water via water pump correct?

HTR

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A single air pump should do for a 5 gallon DWC. Check you local pet stores or wally world (Wal-mart).

Without that air pump your plants will die.

Normally there is enough air between the bits of soil around your plant's roots, but when roots are submerged the air pump is necessary (unless you're doing ebb & flow that is)

EDIT:

Forgot to mention, you shouldn't need to pour water on your plant that long, as the air pump will splash nutes around the bucket, enough so that they will coat the bottom of the net pot.