Lighting Upgrade

[freeride7]

I am looking at a couple of lighting options and could use some feedback. Right now I have a 50 gal. tank with just the basic PC lighting amounting to 90Watts. I want to get into more corals....having said that:
Option #1 PC 6x36 10000k actnics and white bulbs @ $250.00
Option #2 Custom SeaLife MH/PC 400W Hood. It has one 400 watt Iwaki 6500k metal halide and 2 - 55watt Actinic power compact bulbs. $350.00
Any advice would be appreciated.
TS

 

[daniel411]

Is the tank 48" long? Normally a 48" mh lighting system has 2 mh bulbs in it. How large is the tank, and the mh canopy?

 

[freeride7]

tank and canopy is 36"

 

[freeride7]

anyone else have any feedback.......??

 

[reefnut]

If your wanting to stay with soft corals and LPS corals I would go with the PC or VHOs. If you wanting sps corals or clams in the future go with MHs.

 

[jim672]

freeride7,
My 45 gallon is 36" long. I bought a nice combo hood a year ago that has a 175w MH and 2 96w VHO. The ballast has seperate off/on switches for the MH and VHO's so I have them on different timers. The hood comes with two fans. For more mon ey you can upgrade the MH to a 250 or 400w (I wish I had bought the 250
).
It was not cheap but I love the results.
Jim

 

[donjasper]

I'd sharpen the pencil and work out ownership costs. How long the bulbs last (MH - 6 months PC - a year?) Power sucked down etc. Don't suppose waste heat is a problem - unless you live in Southern Canada!

 

[jim672]

My MH bulbs run 9 to 12 months. I've read that the PC bulbs require more frequent replacement than once a year. I do replace the VHO's about every 6 months.
Jim