Starting first hydro

got a set-up from a friend of mine so here is what ive got
400w HPS w/ hood and ballast
3 5' cups
bag of hydroton
GH micro and bloom
ph test, up and down
4 26w cfls for veg
35w HPS
water pump
rubbermaid box pretty big one
timer
a window a/c unit

ok so heres what im thinking, i want to get 3-5 more cups and cut out holes in the lid of the rubbermaid. then i would just sit the pump in the box and have it drip circulate the plants. im starting from seed and hopefully we'll pick a mother and try my hand w/ cloning. some questions, ones the seeds crack do you just place it in with the clay balls? i was thinking maybe of using a dixie cup w/ some perilite to provide support for the seedling and then put the dixie cup into the bigger cup. is this necessary? what do you guys do? another thing, i was going to rig up some hosing to my window a/c unit and run it up to the light is the a/c filter enough to keep out bugs from the outside? i was thinking of venting out either to join up with my dryer exhaust vent or running another hose to the intake of the a/c unit. i can't imagine the a/c unit would help with smell, but maybe. i have easy access to kitty litter, so i was thinking of making a filter using that stuff, again has anyone any experience with this? if it doesnt work ill have to get a carbon one or something, but thats weeks away. so yeah, this is my first hydro attempt, im looking to go sog, or scrog. i noticed two seeds have already started to crack, so this is day one. :)

Sounds like you got a nice set started. Right now just worry about the seeds. You need to look into a product called a Rapid Rooter tray and humidity dome. Some use rockwool, but it has its issues. Gently put the seed in the rooter holes root tip down once it has germed and let it grow.

yeah ive used those while doing a cloning attempt w. hanyama unfortunately i don't have any sitting around...looks like a trip to the store, so ill make up a list.

alright so ive just gotten back from a few places and have done some upgrading to the grow op.
I went and bought some seedling starters, not rockwool cubes as they don't sell them at walmart but they should work well. I have one seed still in perilite which has now sprouted, and four more cracked seeds in the starter cubes.
I haven't gotten an exhaust system set up yet, but i do have an intake. I took a rectangle floor vent and taped it over the exhaust of a window a/c unit. then using dryer tubing i ran the chilled air into the closet. Its set up so it blows over the hps, which i think is cool.
For light protection i took a black flat sheet, folded it in half and velcrowed it up against the doorway. cut a slit on one side so the vent can move through and presto! its not 100% lightproof but it works well for me. I'll probably do some more fenagaling later.
I need to get more batteries for my camera and then ill post pics. so far so good.

So now i've 5 sprouts, which just came up yesterday morning. and one which had sprouted almost a week ago. its about 1 1/2" tall. So far I've just been giving them ph adjusted water by hand, I was wondering how long you should keep on just water and when to start with some hydro nutes. I was figuring on starting w/ a 1/4 solution of the FloraMicro either later today or tomorrow...thoughts?

how long do you plan on keeping them in the tub together

im planning on veggin till they are about 10" tall. hope i can get some preflowers and get a good mother.

i need to get pics up, thats my project for today. promise

dont be skerrrred...cubes en route
how are the youngin's looking?


you should bring up a clone or two next time you come up:dance::dance::dance:

P.S. dont make promises you cant keep
where dem pics at?

four of the 8 have started their second set of leaves, the other four look like they are just about to.