Lighting ?

[jww]

I have a 175 Gal F/O DAS tank I am switching over to reef. For various reasons I'm unable to go Metal Halide. Right now I have 165 llb.s of live rock. The tank cycled in 5 days and have a small clean up crew started. On the advice of my lfs I've only ran my lights about 6 hours a day (90 watts of 10000K)In about a week I'll turn on my VHO bulbs (160 watt actinic bulb and 160 watt 50/50 bulb) along with them for about 10 hours a day. It gives me just under 2.5 watts per gallon. I have been thinking of replacing the 3 Normal output 1000K bulbs. with 3 VHO 95 watt 10000K bulbs and a 95 watt actinic. It would give me 4 watts per gallon. 160 watt 50/50, 255 watts actinic, & 285 watts 10000K. I understand there are still things I will not be able to keep with this ratio, but is it enough light for the majority of reef creatures?

 

[burnnspy]

Too bad about the MH, your lights will be sufficient for all but the light demanding SPS corals and I wouldn't recommend Maxima, Crocea or Deresa clams either.
Squamosa or gigas would be good.
BurnNSpy

 

[ironreef]

personally i would stay away from clams, sps i would stay away from unless you can find some captive prop low light. I would stick with softies and lsp

 

[jww]

Thanks for the advice. Kinda what I thought it would be I probably could get my lighting up to between 5 and 6 watts per gallon with a couple more bulbs. Probably would be better off under under the circumstances (no MH) to stay with what I have and no SPS corals