75 gal reef light upgrade

[mimi]

I have a 75g that measures 48x18x18, with about a 2" sand bed. As of now I have soft corals and some anemones. I've gotten along just fine with 4 SO fluorescents. I feel experienced enough to try my hand at SPS and clams.
I realize I will need to upgrade my lighting system, and I have read sooo many different opinions about what to go with, that I've had a headache for the last 2 months.
I was thinking of going with 2-175w MHs and 2-110w 50/50 VHOs in a retrofit with fans. (Hamilton Lighting). Is this a good combo? Also...financial considerations prohibit me from buying a chiller at this time. How far from the surface of the water should I put my canopy?
Please help me or I'm going to need a hospital.
Mimi

[greg c]

You may want to consider dual 150 watt HQI DE w/ pendants by PFO or Sunlight Supply. You will spend a little more for the ballast but you will make it up if you try the XM 20K bulbs from hello lights. I say you will make it up because you could then loose the VHO, saving you the cost of their purchase + the extra 220 watts of electricity per month + replacement bulb const in the future. If you really want intensity yoou could move up to the 250 watt HQI DE. Making this decision will allow you to carry them over into you future larger system while still saving you the purchase cost of the VHO. The XM 20K looks vey similar to the color of the 400 watt Radium running on a HQI ballast white with a nice blue tint). I saw them for the first time at the SuperZoo convention where Walt Smith was using them on his Coral display tank.

[tendar]

Your described planed setup sounds good. It may be a little weak on halides but should work fine. Halides should be placed around 10-12" above water line.
YOu are right there are so many options out that I still have headaces trying to figure out next lighting setup.
You would probably be better off with 250's for halides and really only a few dollars more and will probably get better colors out of your sps's corals and clams will be happier if placed on the bottom of the tank but they all will do fine if your tank is only 18" tall with a 2" sand bed with the 175's. Hamilton I have not dealt with for lights so can not comment on thier setups.

[Chuck S]

I personally would go with 250watt Halides.

[mimi]

Thanks very much for the advice. I'm glad to hear that something I came up with sounds good to someone more experienced in the area of lighting. I'll go with the 250 MH's instead. What about color temp of the halides with the 50/50 VHOs?
I will have to figure out a way to raise my canopy another 4"; I can only get 8" out of it the way it is now.
Mimi

[Chuck S]

That is a matter of much debate. I personally like Iwasaki but most people do not like the color rendition.

I also run 20K and 10K on Blueline ballasts and like that overall. Probally to be safe for function and your aesthetic mind to use the 10K.

I think better yet if you have reefer's around you have a look at their tanks and different spectrum that may help you alot.