Lighting for a 180 mixed reef

[reefarchitect]

I am about to upgrade from an over-stocked 58 to a 180. I currently have 4 VHOs on an ice-cap 660 and 2 175w XM 10 Ks over the 58.

I was planning on initially setting up the 180 with 2 72" VHOs, 2 96W PCs, and 3 175W XM 10Ks. The idea being that the light would be about the same for the corals as what I have now and later on when my bulbs need replacing (they are only a couple of months old) I would upgrade to 250s, possible DE bulbs.

I was also considering getting the luminarc minis.

It is a mixed reef, but very much SPS dominated.

Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

[The Grim Reefer]

How tall is the 180? The 250 watt DE's would be the way to go if the tank is over 24: tall.

[reefarchitect]

it's 24" tall. How bad do you think it's gonna look with the 175s?

Thanks

[The Grim Reefer]

It wouldn't look bad but you aren't going to be putting much intensity to the lower half of the tank.

[vthondaboi]

I had 3 175s on my 180G and it did fine. Altought the upgrade bug will bite you sooner or later.

[reefarchitect]

Originally posted by vthondaboi
I had 3 175s on my 180G and it did fine. Altought the upgrade bug will bite you sooner or later.

Did your SPS retain good color?

I was also considering getting the luminarc III reflectors with the hopes that it would help with the 175s and make for nicer brighter 250 moguls.

Any thoughts? and if possible do you have any pics of your 180 lit by the 175s?

Thanks again