New grower, 2x2x5 grow box!

Hellllo!

So like everyone else I've been smoking for years now but only recently I've decided i'm going to grow my own! This is my first grow attempt and I've spent the last 2 weeks trolling every forum out there trying to read as much as I can hah. However its about time I post to ask some questions related to my situation....

As for stealth, I’m not that concerned. I'm growing in my laundry room (encase I need the outdoor vent). I live with just my girlfriend etc. No one really pokes around my house and i figure its small enough that not even the most anal cop will notice

So my grow box is 2x2x4'9". I tried to make a 2x2x5 but as of right now the shelving is in the way. I'll expand as I learn Anyway...

This area is going to be both my veg and flowering area as I don't have any room for a cloning room (sad I know). I'm thinking about using fluorescent for now and maybe upgrading to a HPS for the flowering. This will be a soil grow also.

My light situation will include two 4' fluorescent mounted vertical on the sides. Then I plan on using a few extra clamp on CFL. They can move as the babies grow. I am leaving room for a HPS at the top. This .is my first question...

With an area so small would 250w be enough or should I just go with the 400w? Also, if i go with the 400W will it raise temperatures a lot? I'll be using two 4" PC fans as in take and a 9" fan I just have laying around for the out (maybe more if you guys think so)
Also what combination have you guys found to be the best for both a veg and flowering room encase I can't afford the HPS for this grow.
With a limited amount of space would you recommend using something other than just a straight grow (which was my plan) but the more I read about LST, SOG etc I'm thinking I should do something like that. Hehe.

Anywho, please comment I need all the feedback I can get. I'm one of those people that hates making a decision until seeing it from all angles.
[FONT=&quot]Any opinions on good soils and/or nuts is always a bonus to![/FONT]

400 watts is ideal,but the heat will be your enemy. I would go with the 250 watter for now. Heat will be less of an issue for you, and later on down the line when you have been bitten by the grow bug you can buy a larger light and use the 250 for vegging. Ventilation is very important. Just remember that what you are planning on doing could end up burning your house down while you sleep. I use a thermal shuoff switch with a 15 minute delay. If something goes wrong and the temp gets over 90 then the lights shut off for 15 minutes. Also if my power goes out then my lights will not come back on for 15 minutes. It helps protect the life of your bulbs, and also from you not dieing. Growing is fun and enjoyable, but you must use commen sense, and protect yourself and others.

my first growcab was a 2x3x5 with a 400 so it is possible but you need air cooling and atleast a 440cfm fan.

This greatly depends on where you live. Im in the northeast and always had ideal temps. I still use that area today as a veg room and there is a 400mh in there now.

Already have a thermal shutoff switch bought! Picked it up with some of the other odds and ends

If I ended up getting a 250w HPS could I use the the fluors at the same time?

Also whats grow method/number of plants would you aim for? I was planning on just growing 2-3 with feminized seeds.

The added ventilation wouldn't be a problem. However the cost of the 400w HPS would be .
I live in Eastern Canada, so i don't think temperature will be much of a problem soon.

I am glad to see someone actually thinking about safety. Honestly if you are going to do fem seeds I would just do one plant at a time. Veg it for about a month and then flower for as long as necassary and you should be able to fill up the cabinet quite nicely. I would throw in the flouros as well. It won't hurt. It would actually really help out down low and on the sides. Do alittle lst and you can get some nice weight out of that little space. Sounds like you have thought it out and it should be a good grow.

If I only do one plant at a time. Would it be worth vegging a little longer to really "fill" the space?

Also would you use a combination of cool/warm with the fluors during flowering?

I just harvested my first grow in a 2x2x5 tent with 5 plants. It was tight but I'm happy with the yield.

I ran into space issues with the clones as well. I ended up taking a tall Rubbermaid container and mounted a 2ft fluorescent bulb to the lid and cut a hole in the side for cords. Its big enough to use a cloning machine, but it would work old school as well. It's small, portable, doesn't look too suspicious (when its off) and also works as extra storage.

It will depend on the genes of the strain, but you might want to veg for 2 months. If it was Cali big bud then you would obviously not want to do that, but Yes I do think you could veg longer.