Whatever type of plan you have for growing just remember that you can stare at websites and catalogs all day looking at fancy lights and auto PH controlers. Before you know it your wish list is about $3K. Bottom line is you can only do what you can afford and you can always improve over time. You said you have lights covered so no preaching there, no need to make your head spin. There are only a few critical areas of Hydro. PH control is a must. Get a good waterproof PH meter. PPM meter is NOT something that is required, does make control a lil easier but if you keep up with res changes you can do without for quite some time. Water is absolutely critical, imagine that LOL. Aeration of water. You want to pump as much O2 into the water as you can. The one thing that I hardly ever see anyone list for Hydro is power. You lose power for an extended amount of time and your screwed. Everything else is pretty much useless so make sure you use your surge strips and if possible Pumps and anything in water should be on a GFI outlet. Any other questions and shoot away, there are quite a few of us that live in the water.