Lighting Question for Reef Tank...HELP!!

I have a 180 gal tank that I am turning reef. Currently, I have a 4ft MH lighting system on it 2x150 10K MH plus 2 4ft VHO actinics (bought cheap off of craigslist). My tank is 6ft and I am wanting to buy a 6ft fixture so I don't have any places that are aren't really given any light like I do now because of my tank being 2 foot bigger than my light. However, my wife is complaining about how hot our dining room is from all the heat that is coming from the MH system.

As of right now, I only have soft corals (mushrooms, tree corals, devils hands, ex) in the tank with a few scattered LPS (bubble, frogspawn, etc.) however, as of now I really don't have any desire to try and mess with SPS corals.

My question is this......I could buy a 6ft MH fixture with an additional 150W MH bulb and I should be ok to house all the corals I have now but will have the wife even more upset by making the dinning room even hotter. My other option is to buy a T5 fixture and save a bit on the heat as well as save a bit in the pocket book. I am looking at this Current Nova fixture:

Aquarium Lighting for Reef Systems: Current Nova Extreme Pro Saltwater T-5 Fixtures

I would be buying the 6ft 468W fixture. Would this be able to house the type of corals I have or will it not be strong enough to cut through the amount of water in the 180g tank? The LFS that I buy my corals from had all them in tanks with only T5 lightening....however the tank size was much smaller. Also would there be a noticable amount of differnce in heat given off?

 

Your corals will be fine with that new light. How deep is your 180G? They may take some time to get accustomed to the new light.
It will definitely be a big difference in the amount of heat given off.
Personally though, I prefer MH's. But they really do cost a pretty penny to run and maintain.

 

It is 24 in deep I believe.....will that still be ok??? Yeah I agree, I love how MH look and make the water shimmer but gotta keep my wife happy of she won't let me buy anything else for the tank ever hahaha ;D.

 

If you replace the 4ft fixture, do you have any plans for the fixture?

 

I have kept all of my soft corals perfectly healthy with 2 4ft T-5 fixtures on my 6ft 150g. It is also 24 deep. No dark spots on the corners and no heat issues.

 

sounds great......well I placed the order so we will have to wait and see. thanks for all the info/advice

 

Probably just listing it on Craiglist once I get my new one