Upgrading lights, metal halide question

[blondenaso1]

First I'de want to say whats up. I was busy over the holidays and didn't have much time for the board. Sowry, but I am back now, and I need some help spending some Christmas money
Right now on my 55gal I have 4 110W VHOs and a 175W sunburst 12000K metal hallide. I really hate the sunburst bulb so this is what I have been thinking. I want to upgrade to 2 250w MH and remove 2 of the 110W VHOs. I am planning on sending the Icecap MH ballast back to then to have it converted to a 250w and then picking up another 250w. Then I will just leave two of the 110w VHO actinics on. Do you think this is too much light for a 55? I am planning on adding a couple fans, but do you think I will still have heat issues? I have a bunch of acros that are doing great now, but I really would like the versatility to place them anywhere in the tank and not just at the top. Plus, only having one MH makes n uneven bright spot in the middle of the tank.
My next question is what bulbs should I go with? I hate the sunburst I have now. It doesn't burn the right colar, it is not as intense as other 175w MH are, the Icecap ballasts hate to fire the things up, and I relly don't like the overall look. I have being either think of the 20000K coralife, or 20000K radiums. What is the deal with the 10000K ushios, and the aqualine ab? By the way I really like the blue spectrum and from what I have seen the 20KK coralifes look awsome. I know you don't get the growth you do with say a 6500K bulb, but the vibrance of the corals is amazing. Oh, by the way I am sticking to single ended mogul base bulbs.
Thanks for the help, sorry for the long post.

 

[josh]

Glad you are back,
Ok now for the tank, hell no thats not too much light!!!
The more light the better, how high off the water are they going to be....with some fans most heat issues can be resolved.
Well you can get the blue look with either picking a higher K halide or just using the actinics which should be enough to atleast highlight the water. I run an AB 10K double ended bulb and love it. It burns a crisp white with a subtle hint of blue which really can't be seen in the tank just in the light that bounces around the room.
The color thing is really in the eye of the beholder. 20K halides with actiinics are too blue IMO, I would go with either ushio or AB 10K bulbs and then add as many actinics as you think you would need to make the color pleasing to you. I would stay away from coral life bulbs, in short they suck.
HTH a bit

 

[blondenaso1]

I have heard mixed reviews about the coralifes. Some say they love them, but that the 20KK appear to be more toward the 10KK side. The only thing that concerned me with the aqualines is that hellolights did not warrenty them for deffects and had some disclaimer. I just got off the phone with Icecap and they recomended the 10KK Ushios. I think I am leaning toward that. Anyone else heard anything else good/bad about the Aqualine??

 

[blondenaso1]

^^^^