The Best Lights

[kvv711]

Hi Folks,
I have been reading this message board for the past few months and have learned a great-deal. Thank You!
My question is this: I am going to be starting a 90gl. Reef, and want the best for lights. I have been looking around and want to use some MH that I can suspend above the tank (about 12 inches for heat). Where do you find such lights? I have seen some on-line catalogs that have 175-watt retro kits, but is this enough? I was thinking that I would need 400 watts, as I want to have clams. Do I need that much light? And is it possible to buy a plug-n-play light that I could simply hang above the tank.
Thank you.

 

[thomas712]

Welcome to the board
A standard 90 gallon tank is 24 inches deep, this would take a couple of 250 watt MH bulbs to penitrate that deep, and two 110 watt actinic 03 bulbs IMO.
I have a 90 gallon tank and that is the lighting I would like to go to. Right now I only have 380 VHO.
Thomas

 

[sparky0028]

Thomas
I have also been searching the forum for suggestions on the correct amount light. Right now I have 2 pc ( 1- 10,000 day and 1 actinic) on a 100gal tanks which is 24"deep. I stared out wanting a fish only but after seeing the pics and reading this board I would like to add more soft corals and lps. I have a colt coral and a tourch coral which seem to be doing very well- Could you or anyone else lead me in the right direction. My canopy is very narrow (about 8" from top of tank to top of canopy)