Not So First But Might As Well Be Grow - 400w HPS - Tent - Advice?

Hey guys. I researched for a long time and decided I am going to help someone do a decent setup from start to finish. I have a rough idea of what I am going to do, but would like some opinions on my options. First off, I am trying to grow around 2-4 plants to start, and am using a tent. What size tent would be recommended, is it 1 sq ft per plant? So for 4 plants I need 4x4, and 2 would be 2x2? Next, I am planning on using a 400w HPS w/cool tube attached. I know that MH and HPS are used at different stages, and was wondering if its worth spending extra money to get a digital ballast that supports both MH and HPS, or to just get a nice clean 400w HPS off craigslist for $80. So once I get my tent setup, and the main light source figured out, next that leads to germination, pots, soil, nutes. So I figure I keep hearing about smart pots, so for the main process I should get 5 gal smart pots? I was planning on using Fox Farms Oceans Forest for soil. Can I germ the seeds and put them directly into the large pots or is it better to do some type of small wool idea before planting into 5 gal buckets. Is it bad to start the little seedlings off with the 400w HPS system, or should I start for a few days with a weaker setup. Next is my electric and fans, I plan on using 1-2 intake / exhausts depending on availability in tent. Also putting a carbon exhaust just for better personal satisfaction . Can I use a normal power strip and plug all into their into normal wall outlet?

I know it seems like a lot to ask and use the search but I do all the time, I'm finally getting around to posting my own. I know a decent amount but just like verification on my thoughts.

Thanks for all input hopefully I can get this train rolling soon!

Cheers!

4x4 is great for 4 . I do seven however and supercrop the hell out of em same size space. 6 ft tall though. I dont like digital anything and hps can be used VERY succesfully through the whole grow. Ocean forest is all I use and is bad ass. Start your seeds\clones in light warrior soil. I start my seeds\clones in little 3x3 plastic pots with the light warrior soil,let them get a few inches tall with true leaves then move them to bigger buckets. I like to let them spread their roots out and down in a smaller container first. Use the hps right away no need to transition them just keep them watered and the light high. htg has a 150 cfm intake fan with ba charcoal filter for 125 ? or close to it. Dude, you will not need another intake fan with that one. PUT YOUR LIGHT ON A SEPERATE CIRCUIT...

do roots organic soil, throw them into the 5 gal as soon as they pop, pack down your soil with correct pH before hand, and just let them grow, once they use up all that water, in 1-3 weeks depending on strain and grow conditions, start giving them nutes, a bit at a time, spaced out as long as possible to promote root growth, but dont let me tell you how to grow, do it how you want, you can grow weed anywaqy you want, and yes you can use a power strip, 1 sq ft per plant would work depending on how big you want your babys to be, and i threw my seedlings into 400w straight away, they seemed to love it, if you see any problems with my grow that could be related to starting off with a 400w hps let me know

Thanks for the input. I also was wondering about the PH and temperature and all that. I can and will search it but as far as the pH goes what is the average level and how do you adjust it / keep it perfect, or is it just the water you feed the plant?

Also, important thing I forgot to mention, I can't get any clones or specific seeds, just maybe a few bag seeds from some dank. Are there any reliable seed banks or such thing around? If I have any bag seed it can grow into nice nugs I thought if I'm correct.

Tomorrow I'm going to go out and try and get together the tent and light and main necessities, then wait till payday friday to get it all going. And how much or often should I water them? I'm just scared to over do it or under do it I want it to be perfect which is rather impossible to do lol

http://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Electronic-Dimmable-Reflector-Hydroponic/dp/B005215SUO/ref=sr_1_3?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1347338386&sr=1-3&keywords=400+watt+cool+tube

If I couldn't find a good light and ballast that works well with my setup for odor control and such, I may think about this one or something like it, because the tube has the 6" ready to carbon and fan out all in one. Trying to kill as many birds with 1 stone as possible.

well try to buy locally all cash, it just helps not to leave a paper trail IMO even if it is all legal, soil pH is 5.8-6.3 but i have seen 5.5-6.5 before, kinda depends on your strain, tweak it how your plants advise you too, i feed as far apart as often to help promote root growth 7-10 is usually good, and as much nutes as the plants allow, i start strong and build up though. I use pure blend pro nute line, but you can use whatever you want, good temp is mid 70's, also depends on what your strain likes, and what your strain phenotype likes, every plant is unique, even clones, however minimally, fluctuate the temps in the flowering if you want your plant's buds to have awesome colors, e.g. have it get to like 82-85 during the day, and like 67-71 this is fahrenheit

Well, the last thing I need to get set up or at least figured out is seeds. I'm super tempted to get them from nirvana, some nice feminized pack, maybe a few auto flowering strains just for fun ... I'm getting my light, tent, fans, pots, soils, notes, etc. all today. Ready to get it going

A 4x4 tent (16 sq ft) is plenty big enough for 4 plants. I'd consider using a couple of 26w CFLs for the 1st week or two then switch over to the larger fixture. I'd use 3gal smart pots unless you're planning on vegging for a couple of months. Also don't grow both fems and auto seeds at the same time in one tent.