mh or pc

i am building a new stand and canopy for my 125 gal. and was wondering i want to put up 2x mh and 4 pc.. the pc i have are 65 watts a piece. should i get 2 x 175 watt or 2 x 250 watt fixtures for the tank. i am doing a reef. do you guys and girls think the 250 watt are to much or just right. just want to get the most out of my tank and am in a toss up over how much light do i need. i want to get 5 to 7 watts per gal. will the 250 be to hot and should i go with 175 watts x 3? the only thing to replace 3 bulbs instead of 2 that is the deciding factor. well let me know what you guys think.
thanks
rob

 

I can only suggest to you what I recently looked into and decided on for a change of lighting from PCs to MHs for my 120-gallon reef. I didn't know which would be best for the change...more PC (which I already had on there), t5s or MH with actinic support. After exhaustively researching this, I decided that two 250-watt MH with actinic support would be the best choice for me. The only thing that kept me from going ahead was the fear of the heat that a fixture like that would transfer to my tank. I had posted a question and mentioned my concern about heat and someone PM'd this website to me:

www.aquactinics.com

The poster said that he had a fixture from there and there was no heat transfer. The website mentioned that but I was cynical so I took a ride to the factory to see for myself. I was really amazed...there was no heat at all below the bulbs and the unit was cool to the touch. So, I ordered one.

There were people telling me that I should only get double ended bulbs since these come (right now) only with single ended bulbs, but I can tell you that I saw an Aqualine Bushke fixture and a Coralife unit in a fish store that I go to, each with the double ended bulbs, and I put my hand under them and both generated a good deal of heat...frankly, they were hot underneath. I'm convinced that I got the right unit. Just a suggestion.

 

which light fixture did you buy. i have a 175 mh in my 55 gal and it generates alot of heat and evaportaion. what kind of fixture did you buy?
thanks
rob

 

The one I bought is on this page....

http://www.aquactinics.com/Store/Lighting_Systems.htm

It started off as a 48 inch fixture with 175-watt bulbs but I upgraded to the two 250-watt bulbs and chose the 14,000Ks.  I also added two moonlights and I also upgraded the fans to the variable speed Icecap fans. The standard fans are fine but because my wife watches TV in the room that my reef (and my other tanks are in) I wanted the very quietist fans that he offered.

If you're interested in their units you can telephone there and ask for Tom at 203-234-9286 (I's in Connecticut)...tell him Alan told you to call and he'll know the fixture I bought. He's very helpful even if you decide not to buy from him. Any other questions, let me know.

 

I did both 1-150 doubled ended MH in a power compact 2 2x65 and a seperate power compact with 4 2x65 orbit on a 150 gal tank same length and height of a 55 gal but its 40 inches deep man what a change my stuff has done terrific and looks awesome. MOON lights a must for Dusk to dawn WOW.

 

What times do you keep the moonlights on, Eric? The fixture that I'm changing from this weekend to the new fixture has moonlight but they aren't worth a nickel and do nothing really. The moonlights on the new fixture are the real deal so I'm looking forward to using them.