Without a pic its hard to say but it
sounds like you are describing normal roots.
Not sure if you can see in this pic but on the roots that werent submerged in the water are covered with what looks like
fine little white hairs.
Normal
**H@Ck ALLeRt**
Any info I give is based on what I would be comfortable doing.
Please get other opinions.
In nature plants don't live in plastic buckets but at my house they do or they get the f**k out.