Soil-Less nutrients and water schedule questions....HELP PLEASE

I have searched and searched all over rollitup for hours and many bowls hahah and I have finally convinced myself to do a grow using 5 Sour Diesel bag seeds I got from a friend. I just had some questions that I hope you guys can help me with Here is my set up and everything i bought over the last few months for my first grow. I just need to decide which soil-less mix to go with and a good water schedule. Here is what i have researched so far and what I will try to do.

1. I am starting in 5, 5 gallon smart pots after seeds germinate. At which point I will throw a cfl over them for a few weeks.
2. I have a 400w mh for veg and a 400w hps for flower.
3. I am going to put under florescents once seeds pop until i get about 4 or 5 leaves then switch to the mh lighting for veg stage. Anyone have an opinion on the time before they move to veg?
4. Veg in the 5 gallon pot UNDER 18/6 mh...How many weeks do I leave it here?
5. Then transplant to a 30 gallon smart pot and start flower on a 12/12 hps after veg period and determine sex.

I am going to use a 50/50 soil-less mix of promix + fox farm or coco + perlite....Some opinions on that please
I am going to use the Fox Farm brand of nutrients but I was not sure which is better? FoxFarm Nutrient Trio Soil or Hydro? Granular Trio as well?

I understand how to mix them, I was just hoping someone could give me advice on how much water the 5gal pot will take and the 30gal pot will take?
I was going to use the 3 day schedule Nico Escondido mentioned on his grow like a pro youtube video. 1st day water and nutes, 2nd day ph water, 3rd day nothing.
How do I figure out how much water it will take fill them so i know how much nutes to mix?
Do I need to fill with 50/50 soil-less mix and see when they run off and use that for a reference on how much nutes to water ratio to mix? Am i over thinking this lolhahaha? i just want to get it right as possible before I start.


THANKS FOR ALL YOUR INPUT AHEAD OF TIME!!
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so for your first question: they are in veg growth as soon as they break the soil, but as far as light intensity i would say do the cfl's for two weeks then continue veg with the mh.
next: leave it there for as long as u want, i have a lower grow tent so i usually veg for 30 days (thats from seed) to keep the plants around or under 3ft during flowering.
last: a lot of people swear by the fox farm, but i go with general hydroponics flora nova grow and bloom nutes. not familiar with the other ones you said.

hope this helps. good luck and happy growing

what size light you flowering with? vegging straight from seed in 5 gallon buckets seems much. why are you doing that? im just wondering, cause it seems sorta like a lot of work and waste. why not start them in something smaller and work your way up. so if you get a shitty plant, male or hermie you can toss them out and not use that much soiless mix. also you feeding/watering schedule will depend directly on how much your plants are taking.

im am using botanicare loose coco and im running the bio-bizz line of nutes. in addition im using PBP silica blast and Liquid Karma. with added subculture. it works great. hope the best in your grow.

chummerbun had some good answers. i veg for around 6 weeks and use 3 and 4 gallon pots. i would assume your planning on vegging for 8 - 10 weeks minimum if your going with 30 gal. pots. how big of plants are you looking for?

i use the soiless mix like pro-mix but i dont mix anything with it.

i use the fox farms feeding schedule for amounts, not whats listed on the bottle.

i use the fox farms liquids and the solubles for soil all at the same time. i mix it in a gal of water at full strength but usually when i water, i water with a cup of nutes and a cup of water so they only get fed 1/2 strength every other watering. and straight water every other. if the plant looks hungry i adjust the amount of each i give it. usually around 2 of the 16 oz. party cups is enough for a good watering. sounds a little complicated but is easy and just my system.

different stages of growth, they will drink more or less along with the humidity as to how fast the soil drys will determine how much and how often you will need to water them.

i just got some kangaroots and microbe brew to add to the mix.

Chummerbum thanks so much for those times and I will def check into the general hydro line!

@ Irie very good point about the pot size. I was doing that cause I didn't have the experience you guys do lol. I will get some smaller ones for sure, that makes a lot of sense and easier on the pocket book!

@ Smoke I dont really know how big I want them to be I just want a good amount at harvest time. So I figured the bigger the better. What are you using the kangaroots and microbe for, I saw those when I found my liquids and solubles. Should i be using anything for them once they pop. Im starting in a little tray with a dome and some rapid root plugs. Or should I just give them straight ph water for the 6 weeks?

i will be using the kangaroots and microbe brew for the first time this growing season, but i have used the fox farm line for a few years. here is the feeding schedule.

http://www.4hydro.com/nutrients/manuals/foxFarmSoil.pdf

i give them only water for the first week or two once they pop the soil. i may add a little big bloom which is a soil conditioner rather than a nute. after a couple weeks or more depending on how the plants look, i will start feeding at 1/4 strength to get them used to the nutes.

Thanks SC! I am hoping I get some females. I am going to try a soil grow in the garage and a Stinkbud single in the house. Stinkbuds single seems so damn simple and easy on the wallet! Do you have any experience with hydroponics?

no sorry on the hydro, all i ue is soiless like promix. i do want to try someday but it just seems to be so much easier using pro-mix just like you would use soil.