DWC is my recommendation for where new folks should start.

I'd suggest considering forgoing the tent if your space permits. Tents definitely serve a purpose (climate control, light reflection, light blocking for light sensitive plants (e.g.: photoperiods)) but do come with additional challenges, and are an additional investment that can be unnecessary and discouraging to first timers.

Ditching the tent will obviate the AC Infinity too; for now, of course, we're just trying to get you going 🤙

My recommended DWC starter set:

• Black 5 gallon buckets from the hardware store (not orange, white, or blue.. everything must be 100% opaque)

• Net pot lids. Get the lids and don't bother with drilling holes or balancing net cups.. thank me later.

• Expanded clay pellets, e.g.: hydroton. This is mostly for structural stability of the plant.

• One or more air pumps. This will be the only moving part in your system and you'll use it 24/7. Don't cheap out, but don't overdo it as these are notoriously noisy.

• Air diffusers. Don't bother with little air stones. For a 5g bucket, grab a 4" Diffuser Disc 👌

• Air tubing (can be clear, but opaque is better)

• Check valves (optional, but recommended)

• Lights! A Spider Farmer 4000 is plenty to get started, stick with that.

• Nutes of choice: keep it simple IMO, get your basic 3 partner and stay away from the additional amendments for your first grow.

• pH and EC pens: the $15 ones or even test strips will do the trick for your first grow, it sounds like you've got expendable income so this is where I'd recommend splurging.

Everything here is fully reusable (grow after grow) and almost all is reusable for most other methods (RDWC/NFT/Ebb & Flow).

I've been growing for years with all sorts of techniques, and I regularly go back to this DWC setup; works fantastic and is ~foolproof 👍

You can also use rockwool in addition to the hydroton, it makes germination less finicky.