MH or PC

[chrixx]

I am planning on starting a 75 gallon rr tank later this year, but I am undecided on the lighting. I will be keeping LPS, SPS, and possibly some clams with a DSB. I can not decide if I should go with a hood with 2 175w MH and 2 55w PC or a hood with 4 96w PC. I think I would be getting enough light with either one, but not the intensity. Is it worth the $200 to go with MH? Thanks for any suggestions.

[Yellotang]

Not to belittle you but this is a no brainer. PC doesn't cut it for SPS.

If you plan to go SPS then go with at least two 250watt MH on the 75, Its more then worth its cost. After all I have dual 400's on my 70 and I don't lack light. You definitely will if you tried PC's.

[chrixx]

Wouldn't you say 400w is a bit of an overkill? How far are they from the water's surface?

Also, I may not go with SPS. Not really sure yet. Just kicking around ideas right now.

[Lunchbucket]

PC's WILL work for sps. but they will not be as happy as they should be! if you want ANY SPS and/or clams go w/ the MH NOW and save yourself from upgrading!!

Lunchbucket

[reef101]

so if u us MH u dont have to supplement the tank with any oter lights? because i was playnning on buying MH also for my 40 gallon and a 30 watt antic florecent bulb. WOuld this be emough of light considering that the light will be above the tank 10 inches due to the fact of heating problems?

[Lunchbucket]

now you got into color temp issues. all MH bulbs have a different color temperature...basically it gives and idea of what it will look like to your eyes

6500 Kelvins - best bulb for output but is very yellow you WILL need actinic supplimentation

10,000K - supposed to be crisp white...yet i still think it needs actinics IMO

12,000K - lite hint of blue

20,000k - bluish shouldn't need any supplimentation.

if you do suppliment w/ a PC actinic it would be easy to do dawn/dusk simulation. i mean to turn the PC on about 30min - 1 hr before and keep it on 30min -1 hr after the halides so it is like the sun rising and setting.

Lunchbucket

[sven]

I went with PC's, they were cheaper.
Now I am buying MH, they were more expensive.
cheaper + more expensive = real expensive

buy the MH today and save the cost of buying the PC's first. I think you will end up with MH anyway. Especially if you plan on SPS.

[drscheck]

I did the same thing sven did, I bought PCs from a lfs, then found my local reef club and was lucky enough to have a member upgrade his lights, so i purchased his old lights at a real good price. You will save money if you go with what you want now, instead of just getting by now and fixing it later

[Looper121]

Agreed, I went with PC initially and then was wishing for MH. Yeah a little more expensive but I believe worth the little extra $$. And you have lots o happy corals.

[DreX]

Im currently going to setup a 75 RR and bought a unit from Marine Depot . MH 2(250) and VHO 2(110) . I dont have the tank up and running yet because I am still working on the custom hood . I kinda set it up and the light and color is fantastic . I am very happy with the choice i made . Put the money aside and just go with the MH . You will be much happier in the long run . Good luck !

[Lunchbucket]

i went from 2x36w PC's to 70w HQI to a 150w HQI....talk about expensive upgrades!!!

oh well now i have a 70w on my 5.5 and the 150 for my 10gal and the PC ballast for dawn/dusk on the 10, so it worked out

Lunchbucket