Sup man,
I would take the clones when they reach about the 7-8th node so that the mother will grow with 4 tops (see uncle bens topping) an your clone will be nearly as big as the mama. Then keep take other clones off the mama an 1st born for a 2nd an 3rd wave asap( befor early july). Its getting late for big ass plants now so now focus on numbers before the summer solstice.
Read the ingredance of the cystals to see if they contain poyacrilimeds, if it does its not i heard it will make the bud taste bad. But it does work, but often if competes with the plants roots for water, an isnt releasing like the starch ZEBA gel test say they do. Ive never used the poly stuff, an cant tell you if its all the bad stuff i read is true.
My grow box is cheep but effective. Its only for vegin indoor for outside an growing autos cause of its 2x2x3 am mirrored on all sides. Made from 5/8 plywood with house door hinges for the front all seams seald with caulking incase i need to flower in it. The door area is seal with house hold adhesive window insulating foam tape. The door Is pushed firmly aginst the foam an pined shut with nails for a seal. I got 2 carbon filters ready ,a bucket style an one infront of my cpu exhaust fan, but havent needed any with the ONA odor gel in there.
Its not indoor its under my house so my wife dont find out, lol. I grew in 10 degree temps this feb by having no vents running it 24/7 an enought clfs to keep the temps ok (about 150 wats of cfl mainly med white,25 watts red, 28 watts blue). As i t warmed up i added a vent an a 600cfm cpu fan to keep the temps cool.
The main thing with a small box is watch your temps an when you make changes like adding bulb or a vent, check it every couple of hrs to it wont get to hot or to cold. Small boxes are realy touchy. Cfls are awsome, i love em for veging-cheep to run an if you keep the bulbs realy close (1-2 inch) early on it keeps the nodes so tight an they grow good, but they dont make the buds like the sun or a 600 watt hps.
Hope this helps you, any more questions just ask.
good luck grower