I appreciate the back-story; however, you should know, I am already firmly convinced, from reading what you, 'Mac and Robert have written, that you three are not only knowledgeable, but that you are all three adults. None of this ‘my way is the only way’ or ‘if you don’t use Madagascar Monkey Piss you’re stupid’ kind of crap. I’ve been a teacher most of my life - in the Army, as a TA in University, teaching G’tar for 40 years - and you all are quite obviously really concerned about passing on what you know (paying it forward), and helping people become self-sufficient. Cannabis is sacred to me, is about the only thing that has kept me semi-sane most of my life (I better NOT hear any laughing at the back of the room, kids!). They only aspect of it that I have never liked much is the $ end of things. It can drag this most beautiful of gifts from the Universe down into ‘Walmart/Wall Street Land’. I know not everyone will have the ability to, or the willingness to, learn to provide for themselves, but it is my fervent wish that as many as can, will. I grew almost all our own food for 15 years - meat, veggies, herbs- and it may sound like hippy-dippy talk, but there is something different about feeding your body something you grew yourself, with your own hands. It feeds your body and your soul, as well. AND, is there anything better than knowing you can take care of yourself without trading pieces of dirty green paper? Whether it’s plumbing, or fixing the roof, or growing your own medicine, simply knowing you can do these things, and, most importantly, knowing that you can learn to do what any other man was capable of doing, is a feeling of security and empowerment that can’t be bought with money. I’m terribly glad I found you guys, because the one thing that is difficult to have is too much good information. Alright, enough of my sermonizing.
Hydro - I tried, but never got the hang of it. Good information was a lot harder to come by in the '70’s and '80’s. I think (I hope) I am finally getting a hold on the coir tech. What I was doing wrong was thinking soil/soil-less, and it really is a hydro situation, although, thanks to the coir, a more forgiving environment. I was flushing yesterday to correct pH on my ten day old Autos, and I saw a few beautiful, pure white, healthy as can be roots down at the bottom of my 4 gal fabric containers, so all is well here in the desert. I jumped at the coir/autos/LED’s after my forced 10 year hiatus, because all these are brand new to me. So I think we share that, as well. That is to say, challenging ourselves, not staying in the same ‘box’, but reaching out to find, and master, the new, the different. In my head, it is never will I succeed at ‘X’, but rather when I will. 
