Hydroponic Grow - to trim or not to trim

I have a grow box 36" tall called the cash box.
I use mine for clones and beginning veg.
My other cabinet is 24" x 36" x 80" for final veg, transition and flower.
I had the same concerns as you did.
So I used the format of the small box to make my finishing room!
People make the small box work somehow.
I only do one plant at a time.

Trim what you have to in order to contain your limited grow space.
It scared me once my plants started to grow.

Started with 6.
Then 2.
Now 1 plant.
If you succeed I want to know?

Good Luck!

I too have the Cash Crop box. [Sounds like a second room (aka "finishing room") might be a good solution.]
Since I have what I have, I still am looking for advice as to whether I prune the lower leaves. I am going to bend the plants over next week to expose the lower nodes but that doesn't address the fan leaves. I understand what you meant by "trim what have to ...". What got me going down this path was that I have read that you should never cut a healthy growth - then I have read that by eliminating unnecessary leaves it allows the plant to concentrate on her flowers. No matter how I word my Google searches I cannot find much information on the subject.
Yes I will keep you posted ataxian - thanks for the response.

I try and leave fan leaves alone.

The bottom foliage trim away and lollipop.
Bend your canopy and expose as many lodes as you can.

The best best is to think like a Bonsai gardener?
My Cash Crop Box:

Finishing cabinet: 24" x 36" x 80" (limited on space)
My trunk is bigger now however this is what it looked like when I transition it.

48" tall bending and super cropping top to maintain height.
The plant would be so tall otherwise and hit the light if not managed: 400w light
A short growing plant is you limitation.
Cash Boxes are good for getting the plant ready: