OHH God dont start plucking them off, I did that to my hydro ones and I wasnt supposed to, but like you I thought it would help the bottom ones get more likght but ahhh hell read this

DO NOT PICK GIANT FAN LEAVES!!!!!!!!!! it's not CORRECT

Well why the hell not?? they are taking all the light up and the bottoms are dying because they get no light?????? so I have to leave whats left of the fan leaves untill when???? and don't caps me! ;~)

hey goof ball.. those leaves are not blocking the light.. they are absorbing light and doing the PHOTOSYNTHESIS thing (take that for caps)...

Only concern yourself with the top 12-20 inches of your plants.. depending on how dense your foilage is and if you are using side lighting.. even when using multiple 1000 watt HID's.. in a dense growth situation.. no foilage below the top 12 inches produces anything substantial..

See told ya