Restarting reef and need lighting opinions

I am restarting a reef and have some old lighting equipment.

Basically, for a 120 gallon (48x24x24) tank I used to run old 175W 5500K MH and 2 x 48 Actinic VHO.

Can I now use just 2 x 250W 12000K/14000K MH and forget about the Actinics?

I am getting new Icecap electronic ballasts and the difference in price from 175W to 250W is pretty low.

Thanks for the input.

Craig

 

I would say yes, The Metal Halides will provide the light you need for the corals and other inhabitants. I'm even going to step out on a limb here and say that as long as the par values for the metal halides are high enough to keep the corals you want then the actinic's are so much eye candy. They make the the animals that have the right pigments fluoresce.
I have actinic's and will keep them only because I like their color and how it makes some of my corals appear and not so much as they are beneficial for the tanks inhabitants.
Jim

 

i say 4, 400w mh and 4 actinics...mhuhahhahahah lol like 15 watts per gal ha