i've started my first crop but i live in an apartment so i'm very concerned about space and smell. the set up i have now works great but in a few weeks the plants will be to large for the current set up, if anyone has advise of space conservation that would be a great help.

i also need some advice on how to cover up or eliminate the odor of the plants. i have the money to spend on some sort of filtration or air purifier but need to know what kind works best. will a HEPA air filtration unit work?

w/ a closet set up, can i use a fluorescent light through out the plants life or do i need to upgrade to a more powerful light at some point?

The first thing I would do in your case is to tear it down and just stop. Stop, step back and think about it. It is quite obvious you started this on a whim without knowing what you were getting yourself into. You need a plan for the entire process that stays within your constraints. I said you need a plan, now it may not be the correct plan, but at least it is a plan and something to stick with. This is a learning experience you have to do what is best for you. Trust me, you can eliminate a lot of problems by just doing your research, your going to run into enough problems as it is for the things you did not think of.