Help me decide lighting for new tank....

[Snakebyt]

the new tank is a 100 gallon, Dimensions are 60x19x20.

I am debating on 2x250MH, or 2x400MH, will 500 watts be enough or should i jump up to 800 watts? I know it depends on what i want to keep, but for now it will be just softies, i may try a couple sps later down the road though.

Also how will a 20K bulb look at that tank? too blue?.. the kit i have in mind only comes with 15K or 20K lights..

I am new to MH lighting and need some imput..

thanks

[asiankidd2]

i would go for the 800 watts, although heat might be a problem, but 8 watts/gal is more than ideal, however 500 watts would work to, given the tank size i think 500 watts is also enough to maintain just about most things you might want to keep

just my opinion

[bboyin4lyf]

500 shoud be more then adequate. the tank is fairly shallow. as asiankidd2 stated the heat from the 400w's could possibly cause hassels. just mount the sps near near the top. your softies would reach plague proportions under 800w's lol

[Snakebyt]

what about 20K Xm bulbs? are they going to be really blue?

[bboyin4lyf]

do a search on google and im sure something will come up with 20,000k pictures on it. they are fairly blue. looks pretty mad with some corals tho.