MH setup sound good for 90G?

[Fish-o-holic]

After a bit of searching, I think I have found what I wanted. How does this setup sound for a 90G reef tank? I plan on keeping clams and sps in the near future plus the softies I have in the tank currently.

For those who do not know, I am running 4x96w CSL PC lights (2 10K and 2 03 actinics) currently. Anyways, here's what I wanted to upgrade to. Either:

01. (2) IceCap System with Spider Light Reflector: German 250W 10,000K Setup (retrofit kit) http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=ICSPK4

or

02. (2) IceCap System with Spider Light Reflector: ALS 250W 12,000K Setup (retrofit kit) http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=ICSPK5

I would like the tank to have a crisp white appearance so I am thinking of going with choice number 1 unless you ppl convince me otherwise. Any opinions on what I should do and what works best for the overall health of the corals, fish, clams, sps and me? I will probaly reuse the 2x96W CSL PC (03 actinics I currently have with the new metal halides or should I just drop em all together?) The metal halides will go in the middle of the canopy and one 03 actinic on either side of the metal halide. Does this sound okay?

Please if you have some feedback, I would love to hear it. I am coming close to buying the metal halide kit from MarineDepot but just wanted to make sure I will not regret my decision. Thanks in advance.

[Gary Majchrzak]

I like option #1.Additionally, I prefer VHO actinics over PC's. But that's JMO.;)

[Fish-o-holic]

I would go with the VHO's but I am somewhat trying to work with what I have already so the PC's will do the trick. :p

Keep the feedback coming.

[lilbuddy]

i agree i would go with the vhos. I just did this on my 90. Well I added 2 250 watt 65k's to my 90. It is very cramped now and hard to feed fish. If i want to add any corals or anything like that i have to take the canopy off. Here is a pic.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/21592lights1.jpg

[Fish-o-holic]

Thanks for posting the pic lilbuddy. Gives me an idea of how my lights will be setup. Did you paint the interior white for a reason?

On a different note, why do most prefer VHO's over PC's? Aren't they just about the same? If you guys convince me with some good reasons, I may get VHO's as well and leave out the PC's.

[lilbuddy]

I painted the inside for 2 reasons

1. was b/c of moisture. I used a outdoor paint
2. painting it white will help reflect light. Even though i have reflectors on the vhos and mh the white will help a little bit.


from what i have read vhos give a more true color then pc's and seem to be preferd over pc's as well.

Pc's are smaller and will save you some room. MH and pc is a good combo but IMO mh and vhos are the best combo out there.