[jkeithh1969]

Would 2 175-watt Metal Halides plus 4 110 watt VHOs be too much light on a standard 75 gallon tank? Eventually (when the tank is more mature) I would like to try keeping a few SPS and maybe a clam or two. I am trying to plan ahead while I have some extra money and go ahead and get as much of the equipment as possible.

As always, thanks everyone for all of your help.

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by jkeithh1969

Would 2 175-watt Metal Halides plus 4 110 watt VHOs be too much light on a standard 75 gallon tank? Eventually (when the tank is more mature) I would like to try keeping a few SPS and maybe a clam or two. I am trying to plan ahead while I have some extra money and go ahead and get as much of the equipment as possible.

As always, thanks everyone for all of your help.

It is virtually impossible to actually answer that question. 'Too much' or 'too little' light is completely dependent upon the life that will be in the tank. The size of the tank is basically unrelated to lighting except in relation to light intensity/depth. (deeper tanks need stronger lighting to reach the bottom of the tank...)

For sps and a clam, absolutely not too much..... for some softies and possibly even some lps it 'could' be.

[kevinpo]

Your lighting choice would be quite satisfactory for most anything you want to keep. Acclimation and placement are the keys to success to keeping corals with different light intensity requirements.

HTH,
Kevin

[Reefland]

That would be a fine choice. You might want to consider the 250w halides which would be more effective a reaching greater depths if you ever upgraded to a larger tank and because they don't cost a lot more than the 175's.

One day, I'd like to add a couple of 175's to our reef to run right behind our 250's; that would be nice!

[saltjunkie]

i ran 2x175mh with 2x65 pc on my 50 gallon....

[jiggly75]

Originally Posted by saltjunkie

i ran 2x175mh with 2x65 pc on my 50 gallon....

I have a 90 gallon with 2 175 watt and 2 46.5 VHO's. I don't have a problem keeping any kind of corals.

[BLUESMAN]

I'd get the 250 watt MH's. For the very small additional cost of going from 175w to 250, it would be worth it. Bulbs are about the same price, cost of operation is near same, but the intensity of 250's are better than 175's. Also I would suggest getting an 14/15K MH bulbs instead of spending extra money on supplement VHO lighting. I run the Hamilton 14K 250w bulbs w/out supplement lighting. Used to have 250w CoralVue 10K with 2x110w actnic VHO's....I like the 14K's better. However I am running an single Ushio 10K bulb in the center(80g) for dawn/dusk effect.
Blue

[AquaticCo]

Jiggly75,

I hate to tell you but it sounds like you have NO bulbs not VHO. A standard 90 gallon, if it is 48" long would normally have 48" or 46" 110-watt VHO.

[bashcraft]

Originally Posted by AquaticCo

Jiggly75,

I hate to tell you but it sounds like you have NO bulbs not VHO. A standard 90 gallon, if it is 48" long would normally have 48" or 46" 110-watt VHO.

Why would you say he has NO bulbs? I have 46.5" VHO actinics.