GROW BOX/CABINET ???

[Shoeless]

I have been lurking the site and reading as much as I can for quite a while. I had an unsuccessful grow, but I was very happy with the results using the LST method (3 plants, all male from bagseed.)
I used a stacked Rubbermaid container with 10 cfl's, changing the lights as required when going to flower. I am ready to upgrade a little and need advice. Any cabinets I use will be in a loft in my bedroom which is warmer than the rest of the house. This will be a soil grow with LST on all plants to help maximize yield, aiming towards a perpetual personal grow.

1. The heat from the cfl's was a problem I was able to manage, but it was a pain. Would a 4 bulb 2' T-5 in my veg cabinet put off less heat than the 10 cfl's? Dimensions are approx 3' wide x 2' deep x 3' high

2. My flower cabinet is going to be 4' wide x 2' deep x 4' high. I was thinking of putting a 4 bulb or 8 bulb 4' T-5 unit for flower, but would a 150-400w HPS work in this cabinet and would I be able to keep the heat down sufficiently? I know about the cool tube, but will it be enough?

Thanks in advance for all/any help.

[Shoeless]

I made a small bubble cloner (8 sites) to help me on my way to perpetuity. If I do an 8 plant SOG, would the flower cabinet need to be as large as I have planned, or can I scale it down? I really want to get this right the first time so I can concentrate on growing instead of upgrading/rebuilding. Thanks again.

[bigtopsfinn]

That space sounds a little tight for 8 plants perhaps. I have a cabinet grow going with a 400w HPS (second link in my sig), cooltube, fan, and carbon filter. So if you get a good enough fan, you can run a 400 hps in there no problem. Same goes for your veg chamber, just gotta invest in some ventilation. Computer fans might be enough for the veg chamber.

[Shoeless]

Thanks for the input. I am definitely open to all help from the forum. I am pretty psyched right now, as a delivery from the Attitude is waiting for me - Violator Kush FEM, Thai Super Skunk (free), and a G13 Gigabud FEM.

[cannakeeper]

I agree with bigtops, I did 6 in a 2x4x6.5 and they chocked it full at 15-20" tall. With gearing towards perpet and using LST, I would prob do 3-4 in the bloom cab that size. Allow them to veg/mature a lil more and they should still yeild the same if not more. I also have a 400 hps, tube and filter, I actually had to put a heater in the cab since the room it was in was 58-60 deg. You 4 sure should be able to maintain at least room temp with an HID up to a 400 with a centrif fan. It's all in the ventilation as BTF said. The veg chamber shouldn't be a prob with either T5 or cfl with a few small axial fans and vents in the proper place. Sound like you have a good grip on what you're doing:thumbsup:

[Shoeless]

Thanks for the advice cannakeeper. My beans arrived today, so I will be starting a grow log shortly.