Help and advice for newbie wanna be grower

Hi all I'm going to start growing myself and I've spent ages reading posts but I'm still struggling to decide on my set up.
I was going to get a grow tent kit which comes with 400w hps and all the other stuff I need but the tent is 1.2m x 1.2m x 2.0 m (47"x47"x79") which is a bit big for the space I have it will fit but only just.
There is another complete set up which comes with a 250hps which is 80cmx80cmx160cm which fits perfectly.
My question is:I'm going to be growing 2-3plants just for personal use and I want to know is a 250hps ok for this or do I need the 400hps.
All advice welcome thanks.

get the 400.

You can use either one, the yield will be better with the 400w setup and the tent size sounds perfect for either wattage you get. I grow for my own use in a tent (32"x32"x72") witrh a 400w MH/HPS. I can tell you that a 400hps puts off alot of heat, so think about venting your light or tent as I think if you try and use the tent without venting your temps will be to high. I dont know about a 250w as I have never used one. I grow 4 plants in mine and my last grow produced a little over 4oz for premo bud, with lots of trimming and smaller buds to make hash, butter or whatever else you want. Hope this helps you decide, I would go with the largest tent you can get in your area....wish I would have went bigger

Stlmatt

I also second the 400. Go to amazon and get yourself a CMH ( Ceramic Metal Halide) bulb it is the best spectrum for both veg and flower so you wont have to change from hps to mh. Make sure you get a coil ballast as that is the only one that can run a CMH.

WOW that seem like alot of $$ to run a 400w setup, but then again I have no idea what your rate per Kw is. Did you come up with that amount factring in 18 hours on for say the first 4 weeks, then only 12 hours on the next 8-10. My 400w cost be on average about $20-25 dollars a month, some power power companys offer a discount for usage during off peak hours. I think once you find you can grow some really nice bud you might increase your usage..........its easy to do when you have jars full

Stlmatt

It's based on 20/4. I've got one of those energy meters that tells you cost per hour and kw usage and loads of other stuff.I've got a 200hps that used to be security light at work so I rigged that up to see what power consumption was like. I know it won't be 100% correct but it gave me rough idea. I think you might get a better deal on electricity in the USA here in the uk they like to screw us for all they can get. I do have a cheaper rate from 23:00-07:00 and I am planning to start my light time at 23:00 so I get some benefit of the cheaper rate.
At the rate I'm working it out at it will put our bill up £185 ($303)a quarter which to be honest I carnt afford. I'm hoping somebody points out a mistake I've made in my calculations.
I'm going through the forum researching cfl set ups that might be a better choice for me to start with.

Hi all again I decided on the 250w cfl system with a 80x80x160 (32x32x64")Buddha tent plus soil,trays,feed, reflector,and easy adjusters for £160 ($260) which I thought was a good price. With it being my first attempt at growing I don't want to sink to much money into it if I am successful I will upgrade at a later date. Only thing I'm concerned about is the lack of a extraction system they guy in the shop said I properly won't need a fan system as the cfl don't get hot and a passive ie just opening the vents would be ok.
I am quite willing to buy a extraction fan and carbon filter kit which start at £50 ($81) but if It not required there's no point wasting money.I will also be using a 10" oscillating fan for stiring the air and the strengthen the stems.
All advice welcome thanks,hopalong