Stealth Grow Plan

Hi, everyone. I am trying to decide how to grow 8 plants (1 Bubbleberry, 1 OG Kush, 2 Trainwreck, 2 Sour Diesel, and 2 Grand Daddy Purp). My budget for the grow is $1000US (seeds not included). I am living in an apartment, so an entire room being dedicated to this grow op is not possible. However, I have been looking into tents. I am currently looking at Viagrow Grow Tent 3' x 3' x 6'. My first questions:

1) Anyone know of inexpensive, yet reliable grow tents? The Viagrow Tent is priced on Amazon for $130 + shipping ($40). Keep in mind, that space is critical as I must remain inconspicuous.

2) How easy are these tents easy to hide? I have a maintenance man, and pest control sprays every 6 months or annually.

Also on the shopping list is lighting. I am trying to figure out what size light would be the most effective while leaving me frugal. I am currently looking at a 600W HID light (priced at $220), but cannot decide on the best bulb to use.

3) Which light, either MH or HPS, is best for both vegetative and flowering?

4) Am I OK with a 600W lamp, or am I over-shooting it for 8 plants, soil-grown, in a 3' x 3' x 6' tent?

5) Inexpensive light suggestions? Air-cooled is a requirement.

Odor control as you all know is imperative to any stealth grow. The Viagrow tent I am considering has 3 lower level intake flaps, and 4 6" holes for ventilation. I am estimating that I will have to spend roughly $80/fan.

6) 6" Inline fans w/ charcoal filters, is what I am thinking. Anyone have other suggestions, or a site/vendor with good pricing?

Other items are essential to the grow, but are not really negotiable price-wise, but there are details I am curious about. What size container is ideal for a tent of the mentioned size, and 8 plants. I am accustomed to using 5 gallon buckets, but this would require 5.35 cu.ft. of soil. Assuming I'll be using 5 gallon containers, this is what I am looking at on the bill roughly.

- Fox Farm Ocean Forest Organic Soil: $12 + shipping/1.5 cu.ft.
So basically, 4 bags to fill 8 5-gallon plant containers = $50

Nutrients, I like Fox Farm, I have heard from other growers that FF is excellent for indoor soil ops. This is what I am looking at spending for nutes:

- Fox Farm Soil Nutrient, Trio (Big Bloom, Grow Big, and Tiger Bloom): $48/3-pk
- Fox Farm Open Sesame, Cha-Ching, and Beastie Bloomz: $72/3-pk

7) I am not sure, but I am thinking that one pack should sustain 8 plants for a full season, 30 days vegetative, flowering about 65 days.

Testing meters, since it is a soil grow I am only looking at a 4-way soil tester, $25 for a tester that measures soil fertility, ph, and moisture, as well as measuring lumens of light.

So, with what I am looking at it breaks down to (all shipping included), I like to round up to help me be frugal:

- (1) ViaGrow 3' x 3' x 6' tent: $170
- (1) 600W HID lamp w/ bulbs: $260
- (4) FF Ocean Forest soil: $50
- (1) Trio FF 1 quart Grow Big, Big Bloom, and Tiger Bloom: $50
- (1) Trio FF Open Sesame, Cha-Ching, Beastie Blooms: $75
- ( 5-gallon black buckets: $120 (This seems outrageous, looked on Home Depot ws)
- (1) ViaGrow 120V Dual Outlet 24 Hour Digital Timer: $20
- (2) 6" Inline fan w/ charcoal filters: $160

Subtotal: $855.00 (no taxes included)

So, I have stayed under my budget, but any help/suggestions are greatly appreciated. I look forward to reading comments and input on this idea, and I especially look forward to your answers to my questions.

You need a 600 w HPS air cooled, I'm a fan of the sealed glass tube not the hood for small tents and cabinets. HPS is imperitive for flowering, but you should consider blue T5's for the veg cycle. They shouldn't dent your budget too badly...
Don't put your plants in 5 gallon buckets from Home Depot, go to a grow shop or go to one online and order pots. If your only plannin' on veggin' for a month, then 3 gallon will be big enough. Make sure they have good drainage, because the soilless medium you mentioned will drain really well and quick...
You may wanna consider an 'odersok' charcoal filter I run only one in a 2x3x6 with a fairly small fan, and it works pretty good...
Sounds like you have a pretty good idea of what you want and how to get there, good luck...

Thanks for the advice! i forgot completely about my side lighting (the T5s). I have a 4 bulb T5 lamp that I am using now. I've never worked with HIDs before, I've always been a fluorescent grower. So, the transition from fluor to HID is kinda intimidating.

Also do those smart pots work well? Air-root pruning. I've never heard of it, but it sounds beneficial.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=3+gallon+plant+pots&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=1872958425310632389&sa=X&ei=KljXTp_FFMqcgwfkmpTtDg&ved=0CGoQ8wIwAQ

I used smart-pots commercially. I think they work great, but beware of when the soil is too dry the water will run out the sides of the pot sometimes... but all in all I say they are good. I am going to use them in my stealth cab.