Which volume of soil/Sq metter do you recommend fo...

Well this mostly depends on what stage of growth your in for your pots , typically you would start them in a smal 5 inch square pot or something of that size then as the plant grows and covers more surface area of your 5 inch square pot I would transplant them into a 5 gallon pot . But this all depends on a lot of things : how long the plants going to stay in veg , how big you want the plant to be , how much space you have in your grow room . As for the best way to germinate and start your grow , your on the right track being as you can lower the lights to pretty much right onto the plant without risking heat damages while providing it with the light it needs to start up nicely . As for the actual germination there are a variety of techniques out there some people swear by some and some swear by others , I think its important to try the various ways till you find a way that really works for you . One thing I could suggest to help facilitate the germination process is to let your seed(s) soak in room temp water for 4-5 hours before you germinate them with your chosen method . This will soften up the seed husk allowing your plant(s) head to stretch up , open and start growing leaves much faster. I hope this information helps along your quest to becoming a master of cannabis ! -Happy Growing!