Well, 6.4-6.6 was way too high for hydro, too. Sounds as if all your problems were pH related. pH MUST be 5.5-5.8/9 (plant age dependent) in hydro. Here is a link for you should you want to give hydro another shot.
http://boards.cannabis.com/attachmen...0&d=1121829312

Before you do hydro again, do yourself a favor and read for about a month here. Go through all the threads and read, read, and then read more. You did not have the basics down, and winging it with hydro normally produces the exact results you achieved. I am not trying to be a smartass, just telling you that you need to be much better informed before you try again.

The kind of test kit you have will work, but if you want to get serious invest 120-150 bucks in a TDS/pH meter. It is an invaluable tool to have when growing hydro. Some say you do not need, I say bullshit, you need it.

Your best hydro growers know their pH, how to control it, how to maintain it, and what strength (TDS) of nutes they are feeding their plants. They are not guessing rez change to rez change.

When you fire up your hydro system again, we'll try to help, but you gotta get a little closer to gettin things dialed in than you were in your first attempt. You'll love hydro, but it takes time, research, and hells of tiral and error. The results are amazing once you get it figured out.

As for your soil question and bat guano, I aint got a clue. I have never grown in dirt (unless my veggie garden). So, I cant answer. Maybe try posting in the Indoor Section or something.

Best of luck with your soil grow,


b0nger