Evaluate My Grow Plan

[Rusty Trichome]

This will be my first time growing and I want to do it right the first time. I'm hoping to be able to grow some amazing bud. I'll be ordering some crazy strains (G13 Haze, Alaskan Ice, and Northern Lights are at the top of my list) online and I want them to reach their full potential. People have told me that as a first timer I might get some decent nug but it won't be what I'm hoping for. Here is my plan for growing.

Best to learn on bagseed, till you get competent enough for expensive genetics. (unless you can afford mistakes and failures)

Grow Box:
I want to grow 4 plants in my 3'x4' floor area closet. I'm am going to build a
6'H 4'W 2.5'D grow box. I will make it air tight with vents and reflective on all inside walls with 2mm mylar film. I was thinking it would be possible to avoid getting a reflector if I already have all sides and the ceiling covered with mylar. Would this work?

Would go with flat white paint instead of the mylar. Lasts longer, and paint doesn't rip, scratch or fall. You can get a hood with a glass lens closer to your ladies, than with just a bare bulb. (heat)

Light:
I haven't officially decided about this yet. At first I was considering both a 400w MH and HPS for the vegetative and budding stages. I'm concerned that this might be unnecessary to get both. I was also thinking of just buying a 430W Eye Hortilux bulb to cover both stages. I would also consider 600w or 1000w bulbs? Would this increase in wattage significantly impact my potency or yield

The higher wattage, the more heat build-up you'll have to deal with.

Hyrdo Setup:
I will be using the Ebb and Flow system with a 30 gallon sterilite reservoir. I will use a water pump to pump to pump water through a ½'' vynyl hose through a hole in the bottom center of the tray. It will also have a second precautionary ¾'' drainage hose which will extend 6'' above the tray bottom to avoid an overflow. I will also use an air pump and air rocks to oxygenate the water/nutrient solution. I will use small rockwool cubes for the seedlings, then put them in a slightly larger cube and put it in with hydroton pellets.

Sorry, I'm a soil guy.

Nutrients:
I've heard Advanced Nutrients is the way to go.

Way overpriced. Other good products include Botanicare, Fox Farms, General Hydroponics.

Carbon Dioxide:
Does it make a significant difference? Where would I go about getting some?

Don't know...Never used it.

Pinching:
I am under the impression that pinching my plant with significantly increase my yield. But will it affect my potency at all??

Will not affect potency.

Ventilation:
What would you recommend for a ventilation system in my grow box?

Fan forced exhaust at top of box, (for heat removal) passive air openings at bottom. Interior fan for air circulation and stem strenghtening.

Odor:
How bad will it get? I will be in a 9'x9' room which leads out immediately to the kitchen and living room area which leads to a long hallway. I would like to have the odor confined to minimal smell in just my 9'x9' room. How can I do this?

Would require all that enter to wear clothespins on their noses. Seriously, there's some do it yourself methods of odor control (use the search function) or you can purchase one online. If possible, I'd try to seal-off any air leaks from the room, and shut the ac/heater vents to keep from 'pushing' the odor out of the room...and go from there.

Is there anything I can do better? Are there any factors that I have forgotten or do not know about that have a significant impact on potency or yield? Any other tips?

With a 3x4 footprint, I can squeeze-in 12 three gallon pots or 9 five gallon pots. You'll generally want more space and headroom in the flowering chamber than you have in the veg room, but either way...light leaks must be fixed.
I'd also go with CFL's to veg, HPS for flower. The more heat sources you put in a room, the warmer it gets. The warmer it gets, the more expensive it can be to correct. (and since you can't vent it into the kitchen...)
Would get a ph pen and calibrating solution. An invaluable tool.
Keeping a personal grow log can help you keep track of what you add, when you add it, and what the results are. Helps with the learning process.