400W on 36" Ballast

[OceanLuv]

Well - I can't edit the post's title but what it should say is 36" reflector not ballast

Hi again all,

I am upgrading to a 210G, 30" tall, 6 feet wide tank, still trying to figure out lighting for it

I will have a canopy and will need to get retrofit lighting. I am trying to avoid attaching both sides of the canopy openings by getting a 6 foot kit. So... I had thought of doing 36" reflectors (one on each side) with a 400W MH in the center of each, instead of a 6 foot system with 3 250W MH. I will supplement this with an actinic kit that will attached behind the openings (on the part that stays flat) so I can have some light when working on the tank. Oh - the canopy is 11" tall with 2" of overlap (so lights will be 9" above top of tank).

Does anyone see a problem with this or have experience doing the same?

[PDAJunkie]

I would personally go with 3 lights. I would also go with 400w on all 3 as well, but that could just me. Always think more is better. With only 2 400 you are getting about 3.8 watts per gallon and that is not alot. You are also not getting full coverage accross the area of your tank. A good 'rule of thumb' is a light for every 2' of tank width. Just my 2 cents worth. Good luck.