Would this be too much or too little lighting?

[Jeremy S]

I would like to start a 40-gallon breeder tank (36 L x 18 W x 16 T) and eventually keep soft corals and some anemones in it. So I was wondering if one 175 watt Metal Halide and one 96 watt PC florescent would be either too much or too little lighting. Thanks.

[bigsteeviestyle]

I've have little experience with anemones, so I can only comment on the soft coral idea. A single 175w halide should be plenty for many soft corals, so long as the bulb isn't horrendously far from the water surface. If you have any higher light demanding corals, just place them closer to the center of the tank, leaving the sides for less demanding species, like mushrooms.

[wickerj]

In my old 58 gal I used a single 400 watt MH and it was perfect. I think you'll be fine with a single 175 as long as you use a good reflector.

Jeff