T-5's VS MH pendants

I think the pendants are a good choice. Like sparky said, you'll prolly wanna go with a bluer bulb to avoid actinics but you'll want to be careful because if you get too blue, it will start washing out the colors of your corals.

 

You'd be happy with getting one Sunlight Supply BlueWave 7 ballast to power 2 x 250w HQIs (best price I've ever seen right now for $165 at reefgeek.com) and two of the ReefOptix 3 reflectors ($128 each). Some good SPS or Radium bulbs will run you around $70, so all that would be about $561.
You could go with the LumenMax 3 (like I have), but you may not need to since the 75 is a more narrow tank, front-to-back.
You will be somewhat relieved to know that you only need to change out 2 HQI bulbs less often than multiple T5s.

 

Awesome, thanks bogie. Do they have those reflectors on reefgeek? Is anyone else having trouble getting to reefgeek.com?

 

Nope

I have a pair of 175W on my 45G and feel like I could have more. Get the 250s.

 

The only thing I could see being an issue with the 250 watts is heat. My tank is in the basement so it stays pretty cool. Should I be worried about the halides overheating my tank?

 

I understand that worry. I have lots of heat coming off of mine, but I have duel fans in a hanging hood, and a window a/c unit in the room. With the a/c off, you can tell a difference. My tank temp rose 5 degrees last time I turned the a/c off, and that was in April.

 

Yeah, I'll definitely get a couple fans blowing across the water column. Of course that means more evaporation though...

 

ATO baby!!! Recently got one. Will never have a tank without one now.;D

 

Haha I'll look into one.