mr_issues! you read something wrong or misinterpreted. Yes, the debate is lower photoperiod can increase your chances of getting a female, but we are not talking any less than 16hours. Do NOT lower your photoperiod to lower than 13hours of light a day as that will induce flowering... You want to either stay at 16 if thats what you desire, but that will allow for a limited amount of growth. The more light the more growth, but also the more light the more stretch and apparently the greater the likelihood of males are. The idea is to strike a comfortable balance for your needs. If your growing for personal use and pride, I'd go 18/6 to get a stable, healthy plant (not saying more light is unhealthy, but you know what I mean!)

I'd go anywhere from 17/7 to 20/4 depending on what you'd like. 16 seems low, 12 is far too low...There is tons of info to help you decide what you want issues,
good luck