Lighting options for a 265 gallon tank

[superedge88]

I am helping a buddy of mine set up his 265 gallon (30 inches tall) He has little room in his canopy, so he will have to have the lights pretty close to the water surface. Because of how close they will sit to the water (within about 8 inches or so) I recommended he go with a pendant light so that the reflector and the bulb don't get salt spray. This is the best pendant we have found because of it's low height (only 3.5 inches tall, but very wide.
http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/metal_reefstar.htm
Looking to do 3 of these with 250 watt bulbs in them.
What would be the best double ended bulb to go with in this set up and what ballast will push it to its best PAR level? So far he is thinking of actinic suppliment with four 60" Giesmen HOT5.
He's looking to be able to keep a mixed reef. Thanks for your input guys.

[jackson6745]

Cut the top of the canopy a little. 400w luminarcs + supplements gets my vote, even in a mixed reef.

[znut Reefer]

Another vote for 400's with Luminarcs.

[CAreefer]

IMHO, Lumenarc III or similar style of reflector is the only efficient, effective way to light a tank 30" or more in width. At 30" deep, 400 watt is also mandatory, IMO.

The reflectors you are looking at are similar to the ROIII's I ran initially over my 30" wide tank. With 5 of them I still had dark spots. I get better coverage with 2 400 watt LA III's but run three "just cuz".

CAReefer

[MikD_reefer]

1 more for the 400s

[trueblackpercula]

400watts

[Serioussnaps]

400's! Now that thats resolved let us talk bulbs.....RADIUMS 20K, or XM 20K.....you got my input now Ill buzz off.

[jackson6745]

10k reeflux

[Sparkss]

I would suggest going to Sanjay's site and comparing the two bulbs on your planned ballast :

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com