Well lights are out or i would get pics. I redone the arrangment again. So now lights are at a 30 degree angle on either side of it. I have been rotating mid light cycle because the one is a higher watt. Hopefully it continues to grow evenly. It has really started stacking big time now. I am guessing 3 weeks till she goes dark.
How long is a good dark period? Also does it really help with anything?
Dark period is essential for flowering. A photo period female can stay in perpetual veg until you flip to 12/12. With autos they'll flower under almost any light schedule as their lifespan is time-sensitive. I do mine on 24/0 and I have good results.
As for the extended dark period some more experienced growers do before harvest...I don't really know enough to know enough.
Looking at your pictures I think the light is too far from most of the plant. the light itself also either isn't the right spectrum, or the manufacturers wattage spec isn't what they claim. I see it all the time. Home Depot have a 110V shop vac they claim is 6HP. I build industrial vacuums and know that the highest HP Baldor will do for 110/1/60 is 2HP as it pulls around 18 full load amps and 20 amp circuit is as high as you can go - the shop vac manuf knows its a fib but they print a bogus spec anyway. Lighting manufacturers are the same. I see it every day.
I might be wrong but the structure of your plant has both those issues written all over, defoliating it is also keeping the buds popcorn size instead of matting together to form larger ones. It should still yield some decent smoke though