Lighting needs for a 18 deep

[Ryan]

For a 18 inch deep tank, what type of lighting should i be looking at to keep hardy LPS softies and polyps. I was thinking 175 watt MH with 2 55 watt PC's what do u think.

[rusty]

I have got a 15 inch deep tank with 3 55watt pc's and I keep softies,LPS, and some SPS and every thing is doing good. My SPS are growing like a weed :biggrin:

[Ryan]

The only problem I got with 3 55 watt PC's are that i have a ballast for 2 55 watters so i figure if i am going to buy a light it may as well be a halide. I will probaly try to find a DED but i would like to know what kind of wattage i should be looking at. Maybe one day i will go SPS but that is 2 or 3 years down the road.

[PrairieReefer]

175 should do fine but a 250 balast isn't that much more. If you are going MH why not get a 250 and you will have lots of light for sps should you decide to go that way.

[StirCrazy]

18" is that depth where you should look at going 250watt instead of 175watt. almost the same price and a lot more variety.

Steve

[Ryan]

Ya i am thining of going to a tank like chads now i like his designe its 20 deep so i will definatly go to a 250 probaly 14000K and run 2 55 watt pc's with actinics in them.