Help.. distance from HPS 250W? And other major problems...

I am still having problems with my grow...I dropped 150 on this HPS system and really don't want to switch to flouros.

I just can't figure out why these little guys are growing.

I have slowed the watering down to every 3 days (pretty much when the soil dries out)

I sprouted them under a very small flourescent light to ~1.5 inches (took them about 5 days to grow that much...they were growing crazy fast)

I then put them under my HPS 250 watt (built in ballast) and since then ~2 weeks they have only grown about another inch and a half.

One of the plants: 1) The calyx turned very pale...almost yellow and have now dried up. 2) The first set of leaves turned very very pale and has been slowly drying out and I am pretty sure are dead. The 2nd set is doing fine, and now a 3rd set is starting to pop up.

Another plant: Seems to be doing well, except now its calyx are turning yellow and looks like their going to drop off...It looks healthier and greener than the first but its leaves have a slight curl to them.

I have a few more that I have going that seem to be doing alright. They always start out with a bang and then seem to slack off.

I have had them a little over 4 feet from the HPS light with aluminum on all sides and 2 small computer fans circulating air, A larger desk fan blowing over the little ones, and then a HUGE air circulator to keep air flowing through my closet.

The HPS does get fairly warm...but I don't think its over 85~ or so...maybe it is?

I just now decided maybe they were to FAR away from the light? I have seen some photos where people practically have the HPS right on top of the plants!

So now I have them about 2 feet away from the HPS. I will see how that works out for the next couple days...but I am really frustrated

thanks...

Btw the soil is store bought, that I mixed with pearlite. I transplated 2 of them into 1 gallon pots ect.

thanks.