the lighting is one of those energy smart its a 42w but equivalent to 150w but thats what I have been using...as to being new to this growing thing wtf is a cfl? haha anyways yeah i'll try tying it down that way and hopfully it slows the bitch down. and no I havnt had a fan on it...would does the fan take part in? and no checking of the ph...this has just been about as a basic as it can get haha. suprised the hell out of me to find it was a female. thanks alot and keep em comin