Will my lighting be sufficient?

[Galahtoo]

40 gal hex 24-30 inches of depth. lighting will be 150 watt mh pendant. Any suggestions? Also is an open top a must with temp. controll?

[crvz]

Welcome to TRT!!

What are you hoping to keep in your tank? That lighting may be plenty for some things, but I guess I also have to ask how deep/tall is it? 24" or 30"?

[Hop]

Yeah at 24-30" deep, a 250 would be better if you want to keep harder corals lower in the tank. An open top is not a must, I would not run a MH over a closed top tank moreso for the risk of breakage/melting than temp control.

[Galahtoo]

30 inches deep w/o sand and base rock. Looking at keeping mostly soft corals:mushrooms, xenia, star polyps. Maybe some hard corals later. I have no exp. with hards. Last tank had power compact lights and afore mentioned softs reproduced quite prolifically.

Your right about the melting. I can see the glass getting hot and melting the plastic lip.

[ChrisPrusha]

Certainly the softies with be fine with 150W, as will most LPS and some SPS.