Hi Cultivator!
First, thanks for subbing to the new journal.
I do weekly reservoir changes. I could probably go longer, but I feel most comfortable with weekly.
In veg, I flood just enough to keep the roots damp, yet not so much that they don't want to keep searching. At the beginning of veg, that's once a day for me. As they get a little bigger, twice a day. Once the roots have good development through the sides and bottom of the netpots, 3 times a day in veg.
In flower, I flood every 3-4 hours during lights on, and last flood is an hour before lights off. Not ideal to send them into the dark with soaking wet feet. I never flood in the dark, as it can cause nutrient salts to build up on the roots since the plants aren't uptaking much in the way of nutrients during the dark cycle.
As far as Bud Ignitor, I'm sure it's good, but I'm super impressed with Blue Planet's nutrients and additives. He now has a new "early bloomer" product I'll be using in the future, as well as a bloom booster for later in the bloom phase called "Liquid Blue" (I've used this in a few grows already with much success). I've gotten excellent results with his products, and will be using Blue Planet's products exclusively in this grow. In part, because I believe in them whole-heartedly, and in part because I want to be able to provide honest, uncomprimised feedback on these new products when I use them.
I appreciate the tip though!
Thats where we differ is in veg. I flood mine 3 times a day right from the get go. During flower I flood 4 times. I do kinda flood while it's dark. I start the flood 15 minutes before the lights come on. I also flood for half an hour and not 15 minutes. Then again, I'm running a lot more pots then you. My last flood is an hour before the lights go off.
ph meters I have to agree. Nothing is made to last. So I have decided to purchase Bluelab Ph pen. Previous ones HM 80 lasted about 18 months, HM 200 lasted about 13 months. 
I am...honest injun...
