First Time Grower Setup and a few Questions.

Hello and thank you for reading this post and trying to help me out.

I'm a first time grower who has decided to turn a balcony storage room into a grow room.

I'm using the Ebb and Flow system. I've got a 4x2 Plastic tray that sits on 2 27 galloon heavy duty black res's (One is the actual res and the other is just storage for my hydroton). Two electronic timers will run my lamp and pump daily. I'm using General Hydroponics Nutrients and Rockwool. 2" for seeds and then eventually 5". I figure I can fit 4-6 plants in the 4x2 tray. I'm gonna be using 2 400watt MH Ballasts and Reflectors that I got on craigslist for 250 for both. (Good deal) I'll have pictures of the setup ASAP.


Now here is my question. I've got a couple of seeds that are germinating in a grow box I made from an old night stand type table. Theyre gonna be sitting in 2" Rockwool till theyre ready for the HP system.

The question is in reference to the light setup I have for my seeds. I'm using a Philips 120 Watt 120 Volt Agro BR40 Plant Grow Reflector Bulb and a 8.5 In. Incandescent Clamp Light . What are your opinions on this? Should I get something different... or should I stick with it? Let me know and thanks again.v




P.S: I've only got one seed under the light currently. The rest are in damp paper towels. I can't wait for signs of life.

Incandescent light is not good for growing. Get a cfl in the clamp. You don't need any light until you see green.

yeah.
incandescent doesn't do shit.
i think 2x400w in that size of a closet is going to create heat issues.
even if the hoods are aircooled, they are going to be throwing off a lot of heat. \
you might be alright since they are metal halide bulbs and don't throw off as much heat as a high pressure sodium would.
also, since you are kind of outside, you may be able to vent it with fresh cold air very easily.
and, since it is getting colder (or at least it is here.. it snowed last weekend..) things will only look up. (for the next 5 or 6 months at least..)

Okay, what kind of CFL do you recommend and what Watt do you think would be sufficient? I took apart 3 lamps I had and ready to setup more than 1 light if needed.

As far as the pictures I posted, thats just a small cabinet that I'm gonna be keep seedlings till I move em to the actual HP system.

The Closet/Room in which the HP system is going into is about 6ft x 6ft. Pretty good size.