First day Planted (Day 1)

Today i planted my germinated seeds into 6 inch pots with a good quality soil including perilite , permiculite , peat moss ect. I have a set up of a 400 watt HPS light with reflecter, and also lined the walls with Mylar. the Tempeture reads 71 degrees and my Ph level in my water is 6.0. After planting i watered the soil with just distilled no fertilizer and put pots under 24 hour light with my light mounted 2 feet above the tops of the pots. I am planning on watering with distilled water once every 8 -12 hours or when soil is dry. I have a couple questions.

1. How often should i water the plants in this stage ?
2. How far should my light be mounted above pots?
3.When Should i start to intoduce the fertilizer?
4.The lamp and ballast is generating alot of heat ? , i have purchased a fairly good light from hydroponic store and spent 300 , is there any risk of fires due to over heating ?
5. When the plants sprouts what are somethings to know for a first time grower ?


Thanks for you time

1. germinating a seed under an hid is challenging and risky.... those lights can dry out your plant very quickly.... keep the light 30 inches from the soil and make sure it stays moist (not soggy)...

2. lower th light about 1 inch everday...until you have it close enough... after day 14, you can lower the light to the perfect level... you will do the hand test.. put your hand where the foliage is.. if your hand can withstand the heat.. then so can your plants... have a fan blowing air inbetween your light and your plants...

3. no nutrients needed until 20+ days.... use a 3+ gallon container! always keep a feeding journal and dilute your nutrients ... always use MUCH less than prescribed... burning your plants is a major fook up.. after a few grows under your belt and a good journal...you will KNOW how to push the limits

4. I have notheard of fire.. but you need to pull that heat up and away from your PLANTS..

5. dont kill them... dont over water, dont under water... the first 10 days are goig to be the most chalenging.. becasue of the MONSTER light you have...

cheers
and congratulations on the new system!!

iloveyou

Yo Known , Thanks alot man you have no idea how much ur info is gonna help , i did notice that the lights are sucking the mositure outta the soil very quick , i have to water about every 8 hours or so . also the ferts i am going to be using is 10-20-20 for veg , and 10-52-10 for flowering . i have perlite and worm castings in my soil mix , my lights are mounted about 2 feet over the plant tips , i planted 2 days ago and my plants have sprouted threw the soil .

thanks again