1st grow using bubble bucket system (some questions)

[BU5T4THEJOCK]

Hi GrassCityers,

this has been my first attempt at grow. Here is my setup.

1 x 400Watt HID Lamp and ballast with reflector.
1 x bubble bucket system

I had some problems with my young plant that i managed to germinate using the paper towel method. once I germinated it I put it into a rockwool cube (1in) but i didnt really know where to go from there.

The first time round I put them into the grow room with the lamp on for 24hours once they had a couple of wee leaves on it but they died. (I'm guessing due to too much light)

I have put my lamp all the way to the top of the room so its at least 3 1/2 feet away from the plant. The second time round I couldn't get home in time to water the poor little thing and it ended up wilting and never really survived from that, this time I used a florescent tube in the room.

Now for the questions

when should I put the new plants into the room with the full hid light on? I'm i right in assuming the florescent light would be best at the start before i put the hid on?

How long does it normally take for the roots to show through the bottom of the rock wool cubes so that I can transplant them into the bubble bucket system?

Should I buy this rooting gel i hear about? is it worth it?

Can anyone suggest a cheap place to get PH down as my water is a little Acidic? (UK)

I only have two more feminized seeds left so was thinking about buying some cheapish seeds from online that are not feminized to save some cash to see if i can get further than i have so far. Is it worth the extra buying feminized? or should i just go down the three seed route?

Sorry for all the questions but i kinda feel like i'm stumbling about in the dark at the moment.

Thanks for your help folks

BU5T4

Wow I need a smoke now after all that

[SmknVTEC]

You can go HID right away if you like. Just keep them 2 feet away or so at first. Make sure a fan blows air over them. Or you could go 2 weeks CFL and change to GHPS after that. Either way introduce HID light slowly.

Roots should show from 3-10 days I would think.

Rooting gel is good. It speeds things up.

Try www.insidesun.com or http://www.htgsupply.com/ for pH stuff. Sorry those are not UK sites.

Feminized may or may not be worth it. Some say feminized seeds go hermie. I disagree if the genetics are good. They do cost a bit more but may be worth it because all 10 seeds are about 99% female. But it is just as easy to sex, and then keep a cloning mother forever in veg to get unlimited clones off of her. All you need is one female for that.
You can grow tomatoes with the weed but, just make sure you follow the one plant per pot rule; no mixing tomatoes with weed or multiple weeds in one pot.

Your soil mixture sounds fine; just go easy on worm castings if seedlings will be planted in it. Seedlings need no food [castings, guano etc.] for at least 3 weeks of life.