Upgrade lighting

[RGERBER875]

Hello,

I have a lighting question, I have a 240 gal. tank - 2' deep by 2' wide by 8' long,

right now I have 8-96 watt power compacts, 4- blue & 4- white - staggerd

I am wanting to install a metal halide so I have a shimmer look.

iI have room on the hood now to install one in the middle or I could remove two power compact 2 from each end and install one metal hide where they were. ( not end but center 1/3 )

Also I like the bluer look ( so which bulb is that ? )
Also the hood is 21" off the top of the aquarium -
( so what watt bulb would iI use? )

Any help would be great!!

[volitansman]

It depends on what you want to keep in the tank, if you want to keep a lot of corals I would go with 400 watt halides. If you just want the halide type light I would probably drop it down to 250 watt systems. as far as bulbs if you like the blue look I think you might be happy with bulbs in the 14000k to 20000k range.

[wanareef]

Since you are in Cali - I would go with the 250w's - and mount the MH's lower in the hood. Again - it all depends on what you will be keeping. If you keep to the 2'x2' rule, you'll need 4x MH's to cover every 2s q ft of real estate.

[RGERBER875]

ok, i have decided 250 watt 2 for now maybe 2 more later. i have read hours on ballasts. whats your thought standard, pulse, or electric