Iv tryed the sweetseeds - cream caramel and it was absolutely great. 5/5 fems, IMO - Great strain for a great price, I'd guess the rest of the selection would be as good.
Plants are amazing things, Anyone seen the Secret Life of Plants programme? Why do they give off that potent smell? Is it to attract insects to they can reproduce?
I would reccommend starting out with soil also. Hydro is like a fast sports car, great if you know what your doing but can soon become a disaster if you dont.
Most growing equipment you can get off ebay for a decent price.
Keep reading on here and check out some grow journals to get an idea...
I dont think using a cooltube reduces the light, just allows you to get it closer to the plants without burning them. What are the room temps at and how are you controlling them? just wondering cos it looks like you got it nailed :clap: nice work.