[tendar]

I am trying to decide on what lights to use on a 120 that I will be setting up.
The tank will be mostly if not all LPS and softies and maybe a couple of sps if I go with halides. I allready have a sps tank so sps in this one is really not a factor. Not for now anyway.Figure if I do go with vho then I can always add halides latter.

1. Would 2 150w HQI with 2 NO actinics be good for lps and softies in 22" deep of water?
2. Would I be better off with 2 250w HQI instead of 150's and would the 250's heat the tank alot more than the 150's?
3 Or would 6- 4'VHO's be better than either of the halides?
Setup cost would be about same for all three or a little cheaper with a sunlight or pfo ballast but not that much.

Now I was looking at what each use for amps and the
Icecap 150 HQI ballast uses 1.6 amp
Icecap 250 HQI ballast uses 2.1 amp
Ice cap 660 VHO ballast says max line of 4.4 amp (does that mean that it uses 4.4 amps at max lighting of say 4x48" bulbs?
IF so then I could run 2x250 icecap HQI ballast and actually about the same amount of elec.
Tried to lookup PFO and Sunlight HQI ballasts and didnt find anything on what amps they use.
Buld replacement would be more with VHO since every 6-8 months compared to halides double that are said to last 12-18 mounts which is also some what of a factor.


My main concern is not having alot of heat over the tank since it is acrylic and I live in arizona. Last acrylic tanks I had with a halide was a pain to keep kool and cant really afoard a chiller.
Also tring to keep the electric down as much as possible while still getting good light.
The halides would be mounted above a open top tank no canopy about 12" above the water line.

I am sure this is nothing new but would like your opions on what you would use while tring to save on elec and cut down on heat while still give good light for good coral growth.

Thanks all
Gregg

[zhenya]

Tendar,
I would stay with 150w hqi's and forget about anything else since you trying to staY on a cool side Keep in mind that DE bulbs have more par then mogul IMO.

[tendar]

I am leaning towards the 150's my self