Help with lighting options

[chopper320]

I have a 24" high tank that I'm converting to a reef. I want to keep a few lower demanding sps towards the top and some softies lower in the tank.

Which lighting option would be better:

250w MH

or

combo 175w MH w/ 2 75w VHO's

The combo provides more watts and gives me the ability to add some actinics but I don't know if that makes up for the difference in strength of the extra 75 watts of MH.

Thanks

 

[chopper320]

any opinions?

 

[ReefNeck]

I'd go with the combo so the actinics can help eliminate the yellow effect from the brighter daylight bulb in the MH. Also would want to create daylight/luner effects.

 

[chopper320]

Thanks...I'm leaning towards that too. I would really like to keep a few sps towards the top though and I don't know if this would be enough light to support that. In the past I've kept a bird's nest and some montipora under 250w mh and I would like to do the same with this setup.