Upgrading to a 220, need light opinions

[Alamo]

I am looking at putting in a light refit with 3 250 14k MH, and I am torn on whether to go PC actinic or VHO... my current tank has 3 175s and 2 96 watt pc actinics... the wattage im reading on the 72 inch vho says they put out 160 watts and it would hold 2, so thats much better than 2 96 watt pcs, but I dont have any experiance with the VHO bulbs... any input on the best choice will be appreciated... :blink

[cpreefguy]

what kind of corals do you intend on keeping?

[sharkboy]

If you want to keep sps, I would go with 400 watt metal halides and vho's. That is what I have on my 215. JMO.

[Alamo]

I have a mix of lps and a few sps... I was shooting for 5 watts per gallon the 250s give me 750 + 320 for the 2 vho so thats a 1070 watts for 220 gal.

[Ping]

John, I run 2 VHO's on a 12 hour cycle. one a super actinic and the other actinic white and am very happy with them. I run the MH for 6 hours during the missle of the day and my color and growth are pretty good. I would go VHO's. You just have to change VHO bulbs more often.

[cpreefguy]

I would definatly go with the VHOs...

[Alamo]

Its about 2 foot 4 inches deep, lol and just arrived in my living room, its predrilled with overflows, but all my other tanks have been HOB overflows, so im really gonna need some help planning out my plumbing, and a pump , anyone that has some free time this weekend, id love to have someone eyeball this sucker and help me, I dont want to make a goof plumbing this sucker.

Pete thanks, you da MAN !!!VHOS it is, now its still 250s or 400s.......?

[betiuminside]

I don't know a lot about plumming, but I would love to be there so I can learn and ofcourse I will help!
LMK

[Alamo]

Yeah I thought I saw you there, but I didnt see C so I wasnt sure :) Yup that was me.

[Alamo]

I have a few sps, and any clam I have ever had has croaked, so I dont think the wife will go for another one just yet, I like a nice mixed reef, blalnced with both sps and lps

BTW im in the chat room if anybody wants to talk :)