Switching from PC to MH + T5 need advice

[slavearm]

So my current setup is as follows

3 x 96w PC 10K lights
3 x 96w PC Actinic lights
2 x 13w PC Actinic lights (moonlights)
[All AHSupply Retro Kits]

They are on timers. I run 2 Actinic Bulbs for 10 hours and All the bulbs together for 9 hours. Moonlights are on whenever none of the 96w bulbs are on.

My tank is a 135 72x18x24. I am keeping mostly softies, but want to get some higher light specemins like Maxima clams and maybe some SPS corals.

So here is what I am thinking about getting

4x 39w Actinic T5Ho lights
2x 250w 10K HQI DE MH running on PFO or RO III pendants with Icecap 250ballasts (was thinking about potentially using the PFO dual 250w HQI ballast)


1. Does this look like a decent setup for my goals?
2. Should I keep the lighting cycle about the same?
3. Any other considerations I am missing?

Thanks,

Slavearm

[dafraguy]

if possable i would go with a total of three of the 250 this will help prevent shadowing your light schedule is fine its the same schedule i have been using for years

[razer]

I agree with three 250 hqi's. what kind of ballasts are running the pc's?I also wonder why t-5 and not vho's?people say alot about vho's only lasting 6 months but, with a electronic ballast that is simply not true.Icecap ballast are the way to go.

[dougchambers]

I'd concur with the others. You generally want one MH bulb per two (2) feet of tank. Personally, I would ditch the T5s and go with URI Super Actinics to compliment your 10,000K MHs.

-Doug

[d4a2n0k]

Agree with everyone.

I would not use T-5's for actinics. Nothing beats the URI super actinics for coloration.

If you were lighting the tank with T-5's, thats another story.

Go with 3 x 250 MH's and 2 x 140w VHO's.

[slavearm]

Yikes...

Am I going to have an issue with the center brace (glass 135) if I go with the 3 MH?

Ok a couple more questions to add on here

1. If I go 3 250w MH can I go 1x10K and 2x14K and just ditch the supplemental? or maybe 1x20K 2x14K or 2x14K 1x20K. Just trying to keep the total wattage to something reasonable. My electric bill jumped $220/mo just with the tank and PC lighting.

2. Will I have an issue with the brace?

3. Are the pendants the best idea? My tank is not all that wide so I don't aticipate needing any of those crazy huge luminarcs, but I like the idea of the pendants because I can just mod them into the top of my existing canopy (inside of canopy is about 7-8" off the water). I thought about going with a retro kit, but then my bulbs would be only 6" off the water, and I would be using SE bulbs instead of DE.

Thanks for the feedback. I already bought 1 lighting system that I am going to have to upgrade and don't want to do another one.

Slavearm