Need Lighting Suggestions

[Ancient Mariner]

I need some help on lighting, going with 2 250w MH Spaced evenly over 125g. LFS informs me that I need to supplement with HO or VHO? Suggestions please. Should I go with 2 36" lights, or what? Need some input Please!

[motorslave]

The suplimentation is purely a matter of taste. Different Kelvin bulbs will give different color. Even different manufacturers will throw a bit different color (to make it even more complicated!) 10k is generally white with 20k being pretty blue and different k in between being, well, a bit different. Generally the bluer the light the more the colors of some coral wil flouresce or "pop" It makes em glow. When your LFS says you need to suppliment, they are talking about actinic lighting wich is very very blue and helps achieve the pop. Its tricky finding the light you like. I have two 250 watt MH and no supplimentation. My bulbs are 10k and just for me but as my tank loads up on coral this may change though.
To simplify what I just said, you dont "have" to suppliment your lights but its pretty common and gives you better control over the color of your tank.

[crvz]

I assume this is a 6 foot tank, right? If so, only two 250MH bulbs may not give a good coverage. There could be some thought of supplementation for that reason, but as motorslave points out most of the time it is merely for aesthetics. Can you confirm the tank dimensions?

[motorslave]

Missed that Chris, good point.

[Ancient Mariner]

72x18x22, OK, Do you suggest 3 250w or can I go with a 250 in the center and a 175 on each end. Or is my thinking wrong? A freind of mine also suggested 2 250 and atinics. He said that I would bleach out my corals with to much light. Also going with 3 250w how high above the tank is suggested 8 to 12" or what? They will be hung from the ceiling and height adjustable.

[motorslave]

Three wont be too much light as they wont all hit the same coral. Three will provide coverage over the footprint of the tank. Two, even with supplimentation, will have shadows as the suppliments will look different. I would go with the htree 250s if you are planning on keeping SPS. You could run 175s if youwere going with less light demanding coral.

[aquawolf]

Most of the time metal halide coverage is good for 2 foot square per bulb.

With that being said, it brings up another interesting question about how to light the new Marineland tanks that are 36 inches from front to back? I am sure someone will be asking that soon enough in a different thread.

Best of luck to you AM.

[Loverotties]

I'd do 3 250MH and try 8" - 10"

[Rysam]

i have a 135 with 3x250(12k reeflux) and 2 48" vho actinics in a DIY hood. the bulbs are approx 10" from the water. everything looks and grows great. I upgraded from a 2x250 hamilton hood and the extra bulb was worth every dime.