hey jag, it sounds like you're going pretty good there. i'm anxious to see the pics...
as far as a good hid, i like the philips son agro, its 430W, but works great in a 400W setup. it'll give you both the blue and the red,,,otherwise, go for the most lumen you can work with, like teach's 1000W...you've got to consider the electric bill, the heat (the big lamps get HOTTTTT), etc...but the buds will be phenomonal...
schoolteacher, that site is pretty good, i've bookmarked it to use in my own photography...the part about the 'nuclear detonations' ev was something else!!!...i don't think i want THAT much light...
side lighting with the kW??? wow, you ARE a perfectionist!!!!
ps what was the aperture you used for those readings???