using seeds for the first time

hey as you can guess from the title i will be using seeds for the first time, my previous grows have been with cuttings/clones. i have looked at a couple differant methods on the net as to doing it, so im just basically wanting to know which is the best way or most successful way of doing this , also at what height would they first be introduced to a light? i use a 600w hps light, would this be ok to use? also what is the earliest signs to spot a male?

thanks for any info

FREE THE WEEEEEEED !

i soak my seeds overnight in water
put them into a papertowl, and get it wet.
roll it into a small cigar and put that inside a ziploc bag or wrap it with plastic wrap.
put the whole thing into a dry towel and put it on the tv box, we use our sateliatte box.

2-3 days you should start to see taproots.

i keep my 600 far enough away so the light dosent burn my hand and i have a fan going over the canopy.

As far as spotting a male, you can do it with time and experience but just starting out might need to wait till its too late.

thanks for the advice, so when would you put under light as soon as theyve popped and been potted?

i have mine in a two stage system, the first month or two are under a 250 HPS and after that or 14"'s they go under the big motha to finish.

i plant seeds directly into the finishing pot. less handling - GL

Save some electricity and start them under a smaller light. Maybe cfl, keep the light close so they don't stretch. Use a blue white light and no fertilizer. If you put them under HPS it will skew the sex ratios to males.
If they aren't feminized half on average will be male. I plant twice as many seeds in clear plastic cups as I need. I do them all the same, rotate them under the light to keep things as standardized as possible. Then
when they are at the 6th node of so I toss out the ones which have the least root structure. Females put down more roots, males grow bigger and stronger. The last time I picked based on the nicest looking plants
I got all males.

hey thanks for all the advice guys