lighting 120

[Rezzan1]

I am in the basic planning of my new tank. It is going to be inter amarican glass, 120 gallons 48x24x24, starphire on front and both sides. Drilled in center back of the tank with built in overflow. I am going to keep a variety of corals mostky sps with a few lps and softies. light fish load.
I will incorperate a 4-5 in. dsb and quality live rock, with the tank turning over 13 to 17 times in hour. I am leaning to an iwaki or two iwaki's have not got down to those details yet. Anyways I am curious about lighting it with sunlight and spplies 1000 watt ballest. With vho atinics supplementing it. Will this light cover the entire 48 inch length? Would it be better to put two 400s or maybe 2 250 hqis?
I really like the idea of one mh, i feel it would simulate the sun? If anyone could tell me about my options it would be appreciated?

[JOHNNYHO]

I HAVE A SIMILAR SET UP, FOR A 4 FT TANK THAT IS 24 INCH DEEP YOU SHOULD USE 2 250 10000K MH WITH 2 96WATT ATINIC BLUE POWER COMPACT BY JBJ LIGHTING, 1 400 IS USELESS CAUSE THAN IS 4FT LONG AND VHO BURN OUT TOO FAST AND SHOULD BE REPLACED EVERY SIX MOS, TRY THIS OUT, IT WORKS!!!!

[wakesetter]

I would go with 2 DE 250's and 2 110 watt actinic vho. The 1000 won't spread the light enough unless it is way up high but then you lose effeciency anyways. The PC's are a pain in the put IMO especially theh 96's. Lots of people including me have had them break for no reason. You don't get the full year out of them before they break usually,and the spectrum just isn't the same as it is on VHO's.

[Rezzan1]

I will probably use the two 250 hqi by hamilton with 2 100 watt vhos, I was hopening that the 1000 would do it, but it makes sine

[moonpod]

If you use MH, you probably need two bulbs. As for Johnnyho's post re:replacing VHO every 6 mos, ditto for PC, AND if you're using the bulbs for actinic supplementation, then for sure the VHO URI is the benchmark bulb. With an IC ballast your VHO should last at least a year.

My suggestion is a 8x54w T5 system powered by two IC 660's--this will overdrive the bulbs into the 80-85w range.

Read:
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ratgeberaquarium.de%2Fmerfa_ati03.html&langpair=de%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools