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Interesting... So, I take it thats why a digital ballast is claimed to save electricity? ie. actually using 600w? Anway, I believe the 50w/sq ft rule is based on the rated watts: 3x2.5=400w, 3x4=600w... but, maybe I'm wrong.

600 / 4 = 163? What? Did I miss something? There is nothing wrong with using Mass amounts of light, so long as you can handle the heat. With a 600 in 2x2, you are probably way past the point of diminishing returns, and thereby wasting a fair amount of energy.

9 plants in 3x3 is not really a SOG. Avg for SOG seems to be about 4 per sq ft, or about 36 for your 3x3. There's nothing wrong with 9 plants under a 400w, you will just want to veg them for a few weeks or so. Don't train or top them. A good size mother would love 2.5' x 2.5', you'll be pruning...

I believe that soaking is a necessity to stabilize the PH in rockwool. Most just shake the water out after the soak, or use a "salad spinner" to remove the excess moisture.

Either your meter needs calibrated, or your R.O. system is defective. I've never seen true 0 ppm out of my R.O./D.I., but it should be less than 50ppm.

That lamp requires the larger 'Mogul Socket'. They are the same sockets as HID lights. You can get them from any good indoor gardening store.

I've found that enlarging reservoir sizes immensely helps stabilize ph. If it's feasible, you'd save a shitload of money.

Do you feel it important to stick with the 400W just to prove the point? The reason I ask is because I would suggest that the 400W will give very uneven coverage at that distance. There will be very little usable light at the edges of the canopy. IMO, (2) 4', 4 bulb T5s would give much better...

T-5 Flourescents are known to keep internode length to a minimal and produce a high-output-per-watt ratio. Also, a dual spectrum may help. I think the red light coerces the plants to stretch.

I'd agree with that. You will get buds, but they will be light and fluffy. On your budget, consider just adding some CFL's. Your T5 likely came with just blue bulbs, though you may have purposefully changed that. The bulbs for T5s are fairly expensive (about $15 ea). You can get 42w CFLs for...

I know they're not shutting down completely, but the way I hear it is that there will not be enough service to go around. The shops that survive will be completely crowded. This could make it very difficult to very much good "research" done.

2 600w's for 5' x 9' is really not enough light. Your buds will be light and fluffy. Even 2 1000w's would be a little shy. A common rule of thumb is 50w / sq ft. You have about 25w / sq ft. Now 4 - 600w, that would be more like it...

I also believe that 'diminishing returns' should be a consideration. I'm sure it would differ widely between different genetics, but there is always a point where you'll add more and more light and not see more and more improvement. This is probably far below the point that even radiant heat...

Depends on the strain and #of plants per sq ft. Most SOGs seem to shoot for around 18" high at harvest. Using the 2/3 rule, if you start 12/12 at 6", they will be about 18" at harvest. Try B-52 from Nirvana - Big Bud (high yield) x Skunk. Very hardy plants. Look for the bushy indica pheno.

I just run a 1/4" tubing line off of my R.O. feed onto a float valve designed to accept the tubing. It really doesn't affect the PH. Admittedly, I tend to just start PPM high, and add back nutes when it gets low - maybe once a week.

I'm thinking about taking a trip to a cannabis friendly country to sample some new genetics. I've heard that the majority of coffee shops in Amsterdam are going closed/going to close soon. I've heard that in Canada, the coffee shops don't actually sell bud, just let you smoke. I'm...

Aren't some ballasts only rated for a certain # of feet of cordset?

The proper amount of nutrient is incredibly strain dependent. I have some b-52s that show deficiencies at anything under 1200ppm... Really thrive at around 1500ppm...

I agree with it being a bad idea to grow at your parents house, but, A RAT IS A RAT and paybacks are a bitch...

You should consider buying an air cooled hood designed for horticulture. The reflectors designed for growing are far more effective. They even make miniature hoods now for 250 HPS's. Every bit of light that is lost because your reflector is ineffective, is money/energy down the drain. A little...