New 1st grow!! Pics to come this weekend

Ok I started to germ some bag seed today and I am going to build a box this weekend. What would be appropriate dimensions for a box to hold 4-6 plants to be grown under CFLs? Then what spectrum lights should be used in the beginning. I wandered around HomeDeopt last nite and looked at lights. choices are
14w=60w 800 lumens Bright White 3500k
14w=60w 900 lumens Soft White 2700k
16w=75w Soft/flood 750 lumens 2700k
42w=150w 2600 lumens Soft White 2700k
27w=100w 1300 lumens Daylight 5500k

Now here is what I have in mind.....tell me what you think

2'6" Wide x 2'6" deep x 4.5-5' tall
This way I could put 4 tubes on the walls and CFLs on the top and bottom of box.
Im thinking of using 8-10 of the 150w 2700k bulbs on the top of the box
and 2-4 of the 100w 5500k bulbs on the bottom of box
and 2 48" x 4 fluorescent tubes of some kind on each wall.

With proper ventilation will this work?

Thanks

don't bother with lights at the bottom, plants don't really benefit from light taken in from the underside of the leaves, just get as much light as you can coming from above. If you have the time check out 1000bulbs.com they have a great selection of cfl's, to get you on your way.

You might need a taller box, but I am not too sure, correct me if I'm wrong anyone.

Other then that it sounds good, I'm sure everyone else can give you many more suggestions Good luck with your grow!

4.5'-5' should be fine using cfl's, you can get your plants very close to the lights so you could still grow some decent sized plants in there. I'ld put 9 square pots in there, with plants that you could veg to about 8"-12". I would just get as many cfl's as you can get at the top of the box, with some way to adjust them in height if possible. I would use some of your height space to put in an exhaust fan as well as a ciculating fan. Then try to get some 2' tubes on the sides if you have the space and money and away you go.

How much more $$$ will spend upfront and monthly to run HPS? Is 250w HPS enough in a small set-up? Can I buy one light for the entire set-up? Would I be better off with 2 boxes? What are the requirements for a veg only box? I want an "optimum" set-up for a personal stash. But I want to do it on a moderate budget. I would like to be able to support my and my wifes habit off of my grow. We smoke about an ounce a week but Im smoking average commercial headache weed. Typically how many plants would you need to feed an appetite like that? I realize that strains han ability have alot to do with it but generally speaking how many?

Thanks


Gez that is alot of questions

Please HELP!! Im going to buy my materials tomorrow and I have I shot at this or the wife will pull the plug kiss-ass

Do I want more smaller watt bulbs or fewer bigger watt bulbs?

Which spectrum should I buy to start?

What type of tubes do I want?

Now I think Im going to buy a cabinet that is 72 tall x 30 wide and 21 deep.

Tomorrow is the day I am setting this up please help!!

if you have access to a hydro shop either go with a 6 tube 2 foot t5 flouro with compact flouros for side lighting ... maybe 4 or 6 of them.

if you go metal halide dont go less than 400watt and i think it will be too much heat for your cabinet.

the flouros will get you thru veg just fine and give you time to decide if you want to bud under 400 watts of HPS .. which is what i would do

here is a link to the t5 fixture so you get an idea what im talking about
High Tech Garden Supply
just a sample ... it fits right into your cabinet and puts out 12000 lumens.
make sure you get the 6400 kelvin tubes or an even mix of 3 6400 and 3 3000 kelvin tubes if you expect to flower with it as well then maybe add a few cfls for side lighting.
if you grow efficiently you can get average 1 ounce per plant so if it takes 16 weeks total from clone to harvest you will need 16 plants give or take to supply your habit so you may be better off with 2 cabinets 1 for veg and 1 for bud so you can harvest say 8 plants every 8 weeks
packing 16 plants into your cabinet might be difficult unless you fo 2 t5 fixtures and veg on 2 shelves