How much MH lighting do I need for a 2x2x2 softy dominated cube? (60g)

[SFeST]

I built a rimless tank a while back with spare time and money and I want to set it up as a softy tank when I move into my new place and take down my 100g mixed reef. It's a downgrade of sorts, but I don't intend to reuse anything from the 100g other than the live rock. I'll be selling the livestock on craigslist or something and keeping the equipment in storage for when I have a bigger place to live and more time/money.

Anyway, I have the whole thing planned out to the T but the only thing I don't know about is how much light I'll need. The tank is rimless and hoodless so I build a sweet roof-mountable DIY lumenarc reflector that's awaiting some type of MH bulb, but I don't know how much wattage I need to keep softies (zoos and rics at most I would guess) happy on the bottom.

I know I want a 20k bulb since I'll have no actinic supplement with this setup, and I also know they throw out much less par than their lower kelvin counterparts. But I don't want any more horsepower than I need since softies grow like weeds how it is. I also don't want to inflate my power bill more than I need to either. I've always been a fan of T5 for this reason but I figured I would try something new with this tank.

But I digress again. Is 175 enough? I'm pretty sure I could keep some SPS with a 250 so maybe even a 150 might be able to cut it for this tank? Keep in mind that I have an excellent reflector too.

Thanks for looking.

 

[oldreefer76]

We have a 20k Reeflux 250w on our 58g and it works good you could go 175w with a 15k Iwaski and have good results also

 

[InsaneClownFish]

... you could go 175w with a 15k Iwaski and have good results also

+1 You can keep any softie you like with your setup.

 

[SFeST]

That iwisaki bulb is a beast from what I've read. It's too white for my taste though, I need something bluer. I might step up to 250w and go with a 20k ushio or xm or something. Time for more research >_<

 

[oldreefer76]

250w Radium 20k

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

I always thought 6700K bulbs looked better with softie dom tanks. Since most leathers are a brown/yellow....but then again if you have a lot of flourescing rics and green leathers a 20K would be my choice.