Actually HB I found the botanicare line to be more easy and convenient than the GH series but that's only my personal opinion. The less things I have to mix and measure the better and botanicare puts everything in one bottle ready to go.

I change my res every day really.....at least I recirculate to new stuff daily and I think it helps the plants grow better and definitely helps with the ph issues. I change the entire rez about once a week but top off with fresh stuff in the meantime. When the plants get to that size they'll snuffle up a gallon a day or so.

You can buy the waterfarm or you can make one pretty easily....X-C made those big 5 gallon ones to grow his 19oz trees in and a friend of mine made hers with some five gallon buckets as well.

I honestly don't know anything about peat pots....I germinate my seeds in rapid rooters and then just stick the enitre RR in the setup once I see a taproot coming out the bottom. I'm told you your plant must have some sort of root system to go into the waterfarm so you'll need to germ them in something else. I like the rr's because trying to plant a teeeeeeny little seedlings in those hydroton rocks without damaging anything is pretty damn impossible to me and I can just pop the entire rr in without hurting anything.

I love hydro growing personally and would be lost without it. I really feel that if you follow the directions exactly and start with some good seeds you WILL grow some nice plants. Soil has so many unknowns and guesses......makes me crazy. Hydro's not that way at all imo.