Upgrading to bigger tank is VHO acceptable replacement for MH?

I'm pretty sure I'm going to move up from my 30G cube into a 72G bowfront I have. I've always liked the bowfront look and want a bigger tank. All of my corals are pretty good in the cube with 150 watt MH. I got a VHO setup from a friend for free. It's four 48" tubes with two ARO ballasts. One ballast for the two actinic bulbs and one for the two daylight bulbs. Will this be enough light over my 72G to keep my hammer coral and frogspawn? I don't really want to spend a bunch on lighting since I got this free. I'm pretty sure those 48" VHO bulbs are 110 watts. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

Yes if all you want to keep just LPS and softs then the VHO will rock I ran a 90 for many yrs with the very same set up I used and would recommend that you also look at the URI actinic whites and their 03 super actinics also I kept clams also from the mid point of the tank and up , Just hang on to you M/H just incase you want to add something else even sps did well for me up on the very top of the water level near the lamps..

 

The Euphylia species don't require as much light with the exception of Elegance as far as LPS'S are concerned!
You should be fine if you don't want to go with Halides!

 

+2 There's nothing wrong with them, just realize their limitations.
Since they were given to you, have fun ;D
If you were buying, it would be a different story.

Jim

 

Yeah I think I'm ok with mostly LPS. I guess I should try to sell my PCs from aquatraders huh? How long are the bulbs good for? I didn't ask the guy when he bought the bulbs and I don't wanna bug him now. So I guess I should just buy some anyway. I'll check into those that you recommended Tangster.

 

The URI bulbs rock!