OK let me see if I can go at some of this. I've seen your clone pictures. Hmm... not pretty but you will get there. First off, I know you want a heat source but I would not use the ballast. That is just asking for trouble. I know others do it but, well, it's not very good practice. Make sure that dome is tight. You want constant humidity and heat. fluctuations hurt the clone as much as anything. Note that I am no cloning expert. I've only started doing it again after a few years away from growing. Here we go:

Your Equipment:
.1) Type and wattage of lights. I think its a 400w HPS with a hydrofarm reflector hood.
.2) Distance from tops? About a foot-2 feet.

Are you using this light for cloning too? You would be better off with some CFLs or a florescent tube of some sort. Too much light for the clones. If you need to use the 400w move it up a few feet or place a piece of white paper over your dome to shield the clones..

.6) What are the bulb wattages, kelvin ratings, and schedule? I think its a 400w HPS, not sure on the kelvin rating..photoperiod right now is 18/6.

You want to get this right for the clones. You want more blue. Either an MH or better just some florescent tubes. You just want to get them going. Then move them to the big light.

Your medium:
.7) Specific brand and type of soil. Regular old potting soil with about 1/3 perlite, maybe less.

More perilite please. 2 part soil to 1 part perlite.

10) Source of water? (tap, bottled or filtered) What's it's ph before adjusting? I have been using distilled H2O, storebought..ive had to use some tap water the past couple weeks, though. Ph about 7.0 going in.

Is this true for your clones? I believe you want it about 6 until they root but check this.
bigsby Reviewed by bigsby on . Took some clones tonight. Took 6 clones off my plant. My main intention was to clone for sex, but I figured I would just do that with one, and potentially keep the other 5 if it turns out fem. If its a male, I can concentrate on my other 3 seedlings that just sprouted. Ill try to get some pics up tomorrow, my digi cam is out of batteries right now. If youve seen my grow log..thats the plant I cloned. Tips, advice, etc. is totally encouraged, and well appreciated! I need all the input I can get. Thanks everyone! Rating: 5