First Grow (Log)

Hello all,

I've been a lurker on these boards and a couple other sites for about the past 6 months and I couldn't wait any longer; I need medicine and I can't afford the amount I have been smoking.

So, I got an aeroponic system with 8 plants and I just picked up the clones last night from Grassroots in San Francisco. Information on my setup is below.

Method:
8 plant Aeroponic kit from futuregardens

Lights:
400W HPS and reflector from Sunlight Supply

Clones:
(2) Atomic Haze - Heavy Sativa dominant
(6) Arctic Sun - About 60% Sativa, 40% Indica Hybrid

11/28 - The clones came in rockwool. I'm a little apprehensive about dealing with it as I have heard of problems when first timers use it.

I "planted" the clones in their baskets with lecastone around the rockwool as best I could.

I picked the clones up yesterday because it was the only time this week I could, but I have yet to get the PPM, Ph, and temperature meters. I am getting them today; I plan on getting the Ph and PPM meters that are constantly in the solution to give easier and more consistent readings.

Because I don't have the meters yet, I filled the reservoir with between 10-12 gallons of water from my filter that is attached to my tap in the kitchen. We will see later today if the filter is doing anything when I can test the Ph and the PPM.

Temperature wise I am certain I am ok, as I have an oscillating fan blowing on the light at all times and the reflector is cool to the touch. I've heard that the canopy temperature is the most important, and so with my hand down by the plants, it is nice and cozy :) (Note: The system is in the open, at least for now; so ventilation is not an issue.)

I have my light on an 18/6 cycle. When the light is off, how dark is dark enough? I know for the 12/12 flowering cycle it needs to be light proof, but is that true for the vegetative state as well?

Attached is a picture of my clones just after being planted.

Any comments or suggestions? I'm just about at the bottom of the totem pole in terms of experience, so (almost) anything will help, thanks!:thumbsup:

Update:

11/29 - So I woke up and immediately took another quick snapshot of the plants. The plant SI4 (third from the left, on the bottom) looks like it's already started to pick itself up, it had a lot of droop last night.

What do you guys think?

So, I picked up a nice combo ph / ppm / temp gauge by Hanna; the one with the three lcd screens. It turns out my Ph was around 8.6!

I poured about 1.5 little bottles of the lemon juice, the one that is shaped and colored like a lemon, into my res with about 12 gal in it and it lowered it to around 6.8.

My girlfriend picked up some ph up and ph down from one of the local hydro shops (I have three within 10 mins :D) and so the ph was down to 5.5, now it's back up to 5.7.

I also added in about 3ml / gal of some liquid earth vigor and about 1.5-2ml / gal of liquid earth's grow.

My PPms are now at 590 although I have a stinking suspicion my tap water has around 300-400 PPM.

I don't know how old the clones are, if forced to guess I would say around 3 weeks?

So I have filled my res up to 15 gal with a total ppm of 590, ph is 5.7, canopy temperature is at 80 with a humidity of 43%.

I am very worried about S2, the gal in the lower left. Crossing my fingers and singing her to sleep tonight :)