Lighting Question

[alexwolf]

I currently have 3x400w XM 20,000K setup in my 135 tank. I have found that it is almost too white for my liking , that I need some actinic. I shattered my center light bulb, so I am currently running 2 400 watt, but there is a spot in the center of the tank that is dark, over the center brace. Should I maybe get rid of the center light, and add a 72" VHO? Running the two bulbs, with two cooling fans changes my temp 2 degrees. I am almost afraid to add the third bulb. Maybe downgrade it to a 250W and add the VHO? Any cideas would be greatly appreciated.

[captexas]

I am running two 400watt XMs on my 75 along with two 110watt VHOs. The VHO's are an actinic bulb and a 10k daylight bulb. They do make a difference on the way the halides look. Only other halide bulb I would try if I decided to do away with the XMs would be the Ushios. They have a nice look to them.

As Josh said, the dimmer area would allow a nice area for some other corals that don't do well under those 400watters.

[matt]

You could move your two bulbs a little closer together, and try turning them parallel to the tank. This would result in a more even light spread; your tank is 6 ft long and 18" front to back, right? So you need each bulb to light an area 36" X 18". Center each bulb in those two rectangles, about 18" from each end of the tank. The PFO parallel reflectors have a pretty rectangular light spread, so they'd probably be the best for that application. But even using the regular optimal or spider reflectors are slightly rectangular in their speread, so turning the bulbs will help.

[captexas]

Forgot to mention that! I have my 2 halides mounted parallel to the front of the tank. Tank is only 4 feet long, but I think the reflectors work better that way as the tank is only 18inches front to back. :-)