All i am trying to get at with the majority of the problems you see in hydro, i am sure if you spend the money and get a set up it can run without daily ( automatic ph adjuster;s nutrient adjustment sensors etc top op's etc , in soil you you can take off for a week an not worry about anything you can't do that with hydro plants would be dead in one week unattended, right ???????? in soil set your timers exhaust fans humdiifers and water see you in 7 days going to the beach and personally just can't justify being tied up to being constantly messing around with plants, chasing defiencies etc you mentiion growing in hydro would smoke soil grows lets look at the whole picture biggest pot i seen most use is 5 gallon pots, flood and drain 4 x 8 systems, that again is dealing with more plants, pretty much flowering at clone stage or week later which ever i find in hydro you can;t really get huge plants medium can't support it without being tied up to ceiling etc or scrog style you mention you consider your self a pro @ hydro can i ask what is average dry yield you get per plant ?? i am achieving 1180 dry grams per 1000 watts and thats 2 plants under it giving me 2 1/4 pounds + 45 grams left over. I am hoping this grow to reach 2 1/2 pounds + per 2 plants