nice progress so far... you should be good with a 400 at the least, i would use 600 or 1000hps. but in the summer in your neck of the woods it might be tooo much heat to deal with. so a 600watt hps would be the best if you can afford it. if you use 3 totes you can grow 6 plants comfortably, but when they are full of water they are heavy, and messy and changing the res... if you are stuck on dwc you will make it work. for that small of plant numbers i would use soil. but not that super soil, bugs seem to thrive in that barky mess. it is good you added perlite, for the super soil doesnt drain well, especially in cooler temps. becareful with overwatering... also. i like the crex as well nice project. good luck