Questions about plant proximity in a DWC system

[Rubbershield]

So I'm starting my first grow with a deep water culture (DWC) hydroponic system. I'm using a 31 gallon tub with 6 6" mesh pots filled with hydroton pebbles. I germinated 12 seeds and at this point they're all in individual Dixie cups. I had originally planned on only growing six plants, but I can't really bring myself to getting rid of the others. The thought of potentially doubling my yield is very tempting.

My question is this: If I transplant all 12 plants into the mesh pots (2 plants per pot) will I be getting 12 sickly plants instead of 6 robust ones?

Also, I'm counting on needing to get rid of the males when the time comes so my other question is this: If I happen to have a male plant next to a female in the same pot and then cut the male off at the base will the roots of the male rot and affect the female? Is there some way to avoid this or do it differently altogether?

Thank a lot.
Here's some pictures of my babies:

[headshake]

ONE plant per pot! if you put two they will fight over nutes, one will more than likely be weaker and if you do need to pluck the males it will be impossible by this point.

i see that you haver germinated them in soil. how do you propose to get these into the hydroton?


-shake

[Rubbershield]

Ok one per pot then. I guess I'll hang on to the others in the event of any males.

I didn't want to use soil, but I had started germinating them between wet paper towels before I could get any rockwool or peat disks (I live in bum fuckin' egypt, no hydro supplies within a hundred miles). The new growths were getting pretty long and I didn't want them sitting between paper towels while I wait for my hydro supplies to arrive.

Anyways, I think I'm going to wait until there's enough root to hold the soil together, peel the paper off, and then just place the whole thing in the hydroton. Any suggestions?

[headshake]

i'm not a 'dro guy (yet), but i'm sure someone will chime in.


-shake

[SpaceNeedle]

Ok one per pot then. I guess I'll hang on to the others in the event of any males.

I didn't want to use soil, but I had started germinating them between wet paper towels before I could get any rockwool or peat disks (I live in bum fuckin' egypt, no hydro supplies within a hundred miles). The new growths were getting pretty long and I didn't want them sitting between paper towels while I wait for my hydro supplies to arrive.

Anyways, I think I'm going to wait until there's enough root to hold the soil together, peel the paper off, and then just place the whole thing in the hydroton. Any suggestions?

When its time to put them into hydroton, just hold your plant in the palm of your hand without the cup or container its in, and run cold tap water over the base, and most of the dirt will go down the drain. If you leave a bit of dirt on them there's no worry.
SN

[Rubbershield]

just hold your plant in the palm of your hand without the cup or container its in, and run cold tap water over the base, and most of the dirt will go down the drain.

There won't be any lasting trauma to the plant from do that and then packing it in the hydroton?