Lighting ?

[KosB21]

I need some advice for lighting for my 150 gallon( 29", 48", 20")
and i don't what i should chose between the two choices.

a) 2 20k 175 watt HM w/ 4 30 watt fluorescent bulbs

b) 2 20k 175 watt MH w/ 2 95 watt VHO's

Also what should be the ratio of the lighting?
Ex. 1 actinic 03 and 1 daylight for either of the choices.

In my tank i want a variety of corals SPS, soft, hard LPS corals corals that would look great under the lighting.

Thanks for the reply!

[VaderWS6]

Originally posted by KosB21
I need some advice for lighting for my 150 gallon( 29", 48", 20")
and i don't what i should chose between the two choices.

a) 2 20k 175 watt HM w/ 4 30 watt fluorescent bulbs

b) 2 20k 175 watt MH w/ 2 95 watt VHO's

Also what should be the ratio of the lighting?
Ex. 1 actinic 03 and 1 daylight for either of the choices.

In my tank i want a variety of corals SPS, soft, hard LPS corals corals that would look great under the lighting.

Thanks for the reply!

If you're going with 20k metal halides, go with 3 250watt bulbs, and if you really love blue go with 2-4 actinics.

Of the combinations you listed, go with 2 20k's with 2 110watt VHO's. (You listed 95watt VHO's, I don't think they are made in 95 watt.) Closest would be 110watt. Were you talking about 96 watt PC's?

[KosB21]

sorry i was talking about 96 watt. so with that combination pretty much anything can go in the tank like SPS, hard, soft corals. And when you said 2 bulbs for the VHO's would that be 1 daytime bulb and 1 blue bulb or 2 blue.

[VaderWS6]

Originally posted by KosB21
sorry i was talking about 96 watt. so with that combination pretty much anything can go in the tank like SPS, hard, soft corals. And when you said 2 bulbs for the VHO's would that be 1 daytime bulb and 1 blue bulb or 2 blue.


If you are going with 2 metal halides, definitely go with 250watt if you want high light corals and clams to be happy. As far as VHO v.s. PC, go with the 110watt VHO's. Two URI actinic blue.


BTW, is your tank 150 gallon or 50 gallon?

[KosB21]

I was talking about a 150 gallon tank. But i already have a 175 watt ballast and bulb. And i was thinking just about getting another 175 watt ballast and bulb but i was going to get 2 10k MH bulbs. Also, i have 1 blue VHO and 1 white VHO. So i don't know if that would be sufficent for my tank. Also, with that lighting what can't i get and what can i get for corals?