I use Miracle Grow Moisture Control Potting Soil in 16 in pots, about a gallon and a half (I can see in my crystal ball right now someone will shit on me for using it - but hey Miracle Grow works very well for me). I'm currently running a 400w HPS with 400W mixed spectrum CFLS (the big 105 watters). In my state 4 plants is a misdemeanor and 5 is a felony so I keep to 4, and typically have two large ones in flowering and two babies at any given time. Trimming is KEY during the first month and a half- you'll want to trim the fan leaves and set up the CFLS as side lighting to ensure the first 3-4 nodes grow out and up. This is how I manage to get stellar harvests off dwarf plants. I also use Fox Farms Big Bloom mixed with purified water. I am stuck on Short Stuff Seeds - been using them for the last year and a half, they always germ (90% plus), and the smoke is always above average to devastating. IMO MI-5 and Auto-Assassin are the best. Haven't tried Onyx, but just cut down a 50G Blue Himalaya plant. Its pretty heady