High/Low lighting?

[Mark024]

Hi I'm new to this forum and reefkeeping in general, which means that I have a lot of book knowledge but no real experience with corals, clams, anenomes etc. I want to set up my first reef tank, so i am in the process of setting up a 75 gallon. My question pertains to the lighting of this tank. In most books, the general standard for lighting is 3-5 watts per gallon, with six considered high. My original idea was 2 175 watt MH and 2 55 watt power compacts, which would yield about 6.1 watts per gallon. Since this is my first tank and I am going to be keeping mostly hardy softies and mushrooms, I figured that this was too much light. But in browsing the forums, I have found apparently successful tanks with over 2000 watts of MH lighting. Sure these are SPS tanks, but it does make my assumption that 460 watts in a 75 gallon tank is too much look questionable. So my question is, what light is considered low to moderate (and would be ideal for softies) and what light is considered high, ideal for SPS's ? Sorry if this is a pretty basic forum but I am a little confused because what the books say and people say is working is completely different. Would 6 watts per gallon be good for my 75? Thanks in advance,

Mark

[Poseidon]

Hey mark this a great place to start asking questions and yours is a good one...

I had a Phazer 4 fixture, 4 55W pc's 2 white 2 blue, and it worked great for softies like pulsating Xenia, Anthelia, Capanella, Green Star Polyps....

But for SPS and Clams Halides are a must!

Being that I just upgraded to halides myself, I would skip the 175's and go with a pair of 250's, check the post from me below where Scott (reefland) gives some great info.

Also check out the setup I purchased from Ocean Encounter in the same Link MH bulbs...

I am extermly happy with the aesthetics, and I'm sure my Coralline growth and Softies will love it too...

Mike

[tendar]

Welcome to Reefland

The lighting you described would be great for what you plan to keep and even some lower light sps later.
You would really be on the lower to middle end depending on what corals you end up with. You would have a hard time tring to have to much light.
The watts per gallon are not used that much any more because it is to veag (spelling). Lighting perameters go more by the type of light of you use and placement.