First time hydro grower in waterfarm

Hello everyone.

I've been an avid reader and I'm here for help. Here's my questionnaire.

What is your experience level? (first timer, novice, experienced...)
First Timer!

Your Equipment:
.1) Type and wattage of lights. (MH, HPS, CFL's, tube fluorescents, LED's)
1000w MH

.2) Distance from tops?

4-5 inches

.3) Reflector type? (cool tube set-up, bat wing, enclosed reflector, bare bulb...)

cool tube (no duct right now but I have A/C)

.4) Is there a consistent fresh air supply?
A/C coming into the room directly

.5) Do you have an exhaust fan and a circulation fan?
I have two fans in the room pushing air around.

.6) What are the bulb wattages, kelvin ratings, and schedule?
1000w MH,

Your medium:
.7) Specific brand and type of soil, (coco, peat based soilless...) and anything you've added to it. (vermiculite, perlite, worm castings...)
Hydroton

.8) Size of container.
Waterfarm (2 gallon growing chamber, 4 gallon water)

.9) Did you use peat pucks (or similar) to root clones or germinate seedlings?
No

Your nutrients and water:
10) Source of water? (tap, bottled or filtered) What's it's ph before adjusting?
Tap 7.2
11) Method of checking water ph. (ph pen, test strips, aquarium test kit...)
ph pen

12) Method of adjusting water ph. (phosphoric acid, white vinegar, hydrated lime, PH Up...)
Ph down

13) Specific brand and N-P-K ratio for each bottle. List dosages (quantity per gallon) and current feeding schedule.
8ml / gallon FloraNova Bloom

14) How often are you watering between feedings, and how much per watering?
N/A

15) Any additives or tea's? (Superthrive, CalMag, molasses, Mother's Earth...)
Not yet
16) Are your ph levels stable, or do they fluctuate?
Fluctuate
17) What is your ingoing water's ph? ...your runoff ph?
7.2 6.1-6.2
18) Do you foliar feed? If so, with what, how often, and at what time do you spray?
No

Your growroom:
19) Indoors or outdoors?
Indoors
20) What size of closet, room or hut?
8x8 area in an entire room
21) What are the temps and humidity levels while lights are on? ...With lights off
85 on/75 off 30-45 humidity usually
22) Have you seen signs of insects in the growroom?
No

Your strain:
23) What strain are you growing? (Indica dominate or Sativa dom?)
Both
24) From seeds or clones?
Transplanted from soil clones (scary)
25) Is this an autoflower strain?
Don't know

I am using a 1000watt MH light and a waterfarm 8 pack.

I will add some pictures but here's the deal. The hydroton is not filled all the way to the top, and I'm wondering if the drip is causing problems. Some plants seem to be growing (slowly) but they have a whitish dust on them. I was wondering if that was mold, or built up nutrients on them. Either way it doesn't sound good. The ph initially was high so I brought it down with drops. At first I ran just water, but then added nutrients slowly and upped it to 8ml / gallon over the first week. I see some new growth.

The general problem over the week seems to be lackluster growth and yellowing and drying of the bottom leaves. My friend also cut some of the fan leaves (even healthy ones he claimed were blocking light). I've advised him I didn't think that was a good idea and haven't done any cutting.

I spoke to a local guy and he advised using Cal Mag. He said he had no problem with people using tap water in the area, but using hydroton in the water farm I need to use a supplement.

Do you agree with this assessment?

My plants just don't look right. Some leaves dry up near the bottom. There is some yellowing of leaves even on ones that are showing growth. Do you think cal mag is what I need?

I'm going to try that and I'll post some pictures tonight after I flush and add cal mag and some new nutes.

I am using flora nova bloom, but I have flora nova grow as well.

Please let me know what you'd advise. Thanks.