Need help picking MH lights

[the other tang]

I am planning for the not so distant future. I have a 40g reef and am planning a 150g soon. Should I go with dual 175w or 250's? I'd love to find something I could run now, if the ballast would run a single bulb only. Then move them to the 150 later with t-5's. I have a 65w pc retrofit now on the 40g, and will be moving it to the fuge providing I don't decide to do a fish only in the 40g. I do want the option of keeping clams, so the 250's sound like the best bet, but i don't want to use that much power if I don't have to. Any ideas?

 

[d4a2n0k]

If you are looking at the 48" x 24" x 30" 150 gallon tank and dont want to be limited with where you place the clams, you should go with 400's.

You can get by with 250's but if you do get clams, they will need to be near the top of your rockwork. There are lower light clams that will do fine with 250's but if you are want to keep a Maxima or Crocea and want to place it lower down, they will need 400's. 250w MH's are good to about 24" deep so you might think about going with a 120 gallon (48" x 24" x 24").

 

[the other tang]

Good point, thanks. 120 would be a good size, Especiallly if with the light in mind. I definately don't want dual 400's.