90 gal. lighting

[jiggly75]

Hello,

I'm setting up a 90 gallon reef tank. I want to keep hard corals in the new tank. Will 2 175 watt metal halide, and 2 110 watt VHO's be enough lighting?

[patsfan1130]

Hello,

I'm setting up a 90 gallon reef tank. I want to keep hard corals in the new tank. Will 2 175 watt metal halide, and 2 110 watt VHO's be enough lighting?

I would go with 250's as they they will penetrate your 24'' tank much better. 175's would be ok but the 250's will be MUCH more beneficial for corals and for yourself. you wont need to worry too much at all about where to place things.


Mark

[Reefland]

And besides, the 250's aren't much more expensive than the 175's if your buying new.

[Sueet]

I actually have basically the same question... however, my 90 isn't 24inches deep... well, it would be..... IF it didn't have an 8" sandbed (well, between 7 and 8 accounting for all the ups and downs) ..... Anyway, I bought my ballasts already and bulbs, so I hope the 175's will do? I was actually thinking of power compacts tho, instead of vho... I won't be keeping alot of hard corals, but I'd like to be able to keep at least 4 or 5... and a couple clams if I can.

[patsfan1130]

I actually have basically the same question... however, my 90 isn't 24inches deep... well, it would be..... IF it didn't have an 8" sandbed (well, between 7 and 8 accounting for all the ups and downs) ..... Anyway, I bought my ballasts already and bulbs, so I hope the 175's will do? I was actually thinking of power compacts tho, instead of vho... I won't be keeping alot of hard corals, but I'd like to be able to keep at least 4 or 5... and a couple clams if I can.

You'll be ok with the 175's. 8''!!! whoa

Personally..I like the effect VHO give MUCH better than PC. especially the 03 actinics. As Scott mentioned above, the price difference between the 2 is negligable to most. But the PAR between the 2 is quite dramatic. But again...you will be ok with them.