if i am running a hydroponic and i don’t want to grow in soil what would be my other options
It depends on the type of hydroponic. But most people use rock-wool or the hydroton clay pebbles. There are tons of new stuff out there made of all kinds of things, but they basically fall into two main types, wicking or non-wicking, for example the hydroton clay pebbles and small lava rocks would be non-wicking, coco coir would be wicking as it can absorb or draw off (liquid) by capillary action. This is important if bottom feeding or top drip feeding and various other ways of applying the water in a hydro system.