Noob lighting question

[revnull]

I'm looking for recommendations for a versatile lighting setup. My tank is only 60 gallon right now, but I'd like to be able to move the setup to a larger tank in the future. I was thinking of a combination of T5 actinic and 10-15k metal halides. How much lighting is too much? How many T5 fixtures should I use? How many watts per bulb? Should I use just T5's with this size tank and just get MH later?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Entropy]

What are the dimensions on your current tank and what you plan to upgrade to?

 

[revnull]

Right now, 48Lx15Wx18H (60 gallon). In the future, a 190 gallon.

 

[Entropy]

I would go with two 250w metal halides and get either 14k or 20 k bulbs for the current tank. It will be a little overkill more than likely but the setup will transfer to the new tank much better than any lighting designed spefically for the 60g IMO.

 

[revnull]

From what I have read, most lighting setups would benefit from some kind of supplemental actinic lighting to increase the spectral range. I was thinking of T5's to save space.

Wish List:
2x Icecap 250mh
2x Spider Reflectors
2x (Unknown MH bulbs)
1x Icecap 660
2x (Unknown T5 reflectors)
2x (Unknown T5 Bulbs)