Well, I really want to get the single unit Water Farm before I shell out the money for the 8 unit with main reservoir one. I want to make sure I enjoy it, etc...

I buy spring water by the gallon, as my PH is quite alkaline and hard, so would this be how I would go about doing things?: Fill the reservoir with 4 gallons of spring water, and then mix in the nutrients for whatever stage of growth they are in? And then, each week dump it out, and do the same thing again? Because if that's all there is to it, it seems much easier than soil. Of course I would buy a pH meter and pH + and - just in case the pH is off. It says it comes with hydroponics nutrients. Does it come with the Flora line?

The GH FloraNova is also just one part, like the Botanicare line you mentioned. I'm debating between GH FloraNova and Botanicare Pro. I also don't like mixing a lot of things, especially since I'll be new to hydroponics.

But one thing that scares me, is it seems to me that a lot of people initially run into some sort of problem with pH, or I'll notice them adding things such as calcium and magnesium because their plants have deficiencies. So, in all reality, will I definitely need more than my nutrients in order for my plants to go from seed to harvest in the water farm?

I'm also wondering what you're opinion on planting 4 Master Lows in the water farm. The only thing I'm worried about, is the fact that autoflowering plants (and all plants apparently, lol) thrive in the water farm. I could see planting 4 master lows in a 4 gallon pot of soil, but I'm wondering if their roots would just go crazy, and somehow die. Perhaps 2 Master Lows?