Fruit flies or fungus gnats? Fungus gnats are an easy fix, let your soil dry out and put a layer of white sand over your soil before watering. That keeps them from laying eggs. Hang up some flypaper to reduce their numbers and they should be gone in a week.
protip: after the flies are gone...
Expect an ounce per 100w of CFL, IF you're lucky. If your budget is small, then money spent on hydro equipment would be MUCH better spent on lighting and ventilation.
200w of CFL will grow you a nice plant, $40 DIY (1 4-pack 5600k +1 6-pack 2700k = $25, hardware $15 wiring tutorial in my sig)
1 bag of FFOF $20-$25
1 bag lime $4
1 bottle Tiger Bloom $20
1 5 gal bucket $2.50
Grow pot for $100, plenty of help here
I have the same problem, 400w, middle of summer, heat issues. One way around it is to add a window a/c to your growbox. Is that an option for you? (a/c also lowers humidity, added benefit)
I was going to suggest the same thing, J. 4x4x6 frame made out of pvc or 2x2. Personally, I prefer wood but to each his own. Shouldn't be more than $50-$70.
Can you bring in cool basement air to lower those 85f temps? A vent fan hooked up to a thermostatic switch will keep your temps wherever you want them. I grow under the same conditions, vent fan turns on for a few minutes every 20 minutes or so to keep temps at 76f during lights on.
You should always remove dead plant matter, if it does get moist (like at the base near the stem) mold can grow on it. I've even had little tiny puffballs of mold on old stems that had been cut, just a nub on the stalk.
Looks like you've got a few things going on. The beginnings of nute deficiency due to lockout, and overwatering. One person's watering schedule doesn't necessarily apply to you. Different environments, different temps, different plant sizes, etc. all determine how often you need to water. When...