550 W

[demosthenes]

I was going to order a MH/VHO system, that equalled 570 W, but was told the MH would be too hot. So, how does a 4 bulb VHO system sound. I will have 4 110 W Bulbs, 2 10000K and 2 Super Actinic, and also 2 55 W PCs that I already have. Can I keep sps with 570 W in a 75? This will be 7 W per gallon. T4AH

 

[demosthenes]

That was the reason I couldn't get the MH. There was no way to keep them more than like 2" from the water. What does sps stand for really. Short Polyped Stony corals or Short Polyped Soft corals? If sps stands for Stony though, then I don't want any sps, but if it means Soft, well then, I don't know if i can keep any corals at all, or so it is starting to seem. I was wondering what kind of soft corals I could keep though. Can I keep a Ritteris Anemone? What about Devil's Hand? I'm pretty unsure about this stuff. I'm new into the reefing hobby. T4AH

 

[the infamous sea cucumber]

What exactally makes a MH necisarry for keeping SPS and certain clams? What about if you have a shallow tank? Would vho be ok then? I have seen a few tanks with strickly vho systems that have both sps and maxima clams in them, and they all seem to be doing fine...good, bright coloration ect. I understand that MH is putting a more intense light from a single point of origin on the tank, unlike vho or pc that has a larger bulb and a wider source where the light comes from. Is this what makes all the difference? Seems like in a shallow tank w/ 440+ watts of vho vs. a tank w/ 2 175w MH you could keep compairable organisms. Please tell me why im way off base. Thanks

 

[demosthenes]

Ok, well, I've already got the PCs, but I think I'll just hold off on the new lights until I get things worked out. T4TH