Sufficient lighting for 30gal long

[9Tailfox]

I've been doing a lot of research, reading, lurking on the forums here and am looking to set up a 30 gal long reef system (largest I have a chance to convince my land lord to allow).

I had a question about lighting. After all is established I am looking LPS or SPS maybe a clam eventually (not rushing anything, still collecting equipment). I will have a DSB of about 4 inches I think so the sand bed will be about 12 inches from the water surface (36x12x16 total dimensions).

I was going to have an open top and I would like a MH set up for lighting. Do you think something like a 36" SunPod HQI with 2-150W HQI and moonlights would be sufficient lighting. I was thinking that the 2-250's would be way over kill for my tank depth. Or should I look into a fixture with 150w MH and high output T5's supplementing for some extra oomph(I'd prefer T5's supplementing over PC's)?

Anyone have any Experience/problems with the SunPod and would recommend it or does anybody else have a favorite lighting brand they would recommend?

 

[USC-fan]

i would get 1 mh 150 and t5s. You could also look into just using t5s. That is what i use on my 30 gal 36" long.

 

[DrHank]

You are correct 2-250s would be major overkill. You'd do fine with T5s for primary lighting if you chose to do so. PCs or T5s would work as supplemental lighting with 2-150MH.

I use 4 - 54w T5s for lighting on my 110 gallon. I've got everything in the tank including some easy SPS (if I added 2 more 10Ks I could have anything). My 29 gallon is running 2 - 65W PCs and even my pocillapora (which is near the top is doing great).

 

[9Tailfox]

For T5's with individual reflectors what kind of wattage would I need for a 12 inch depth to keep clams or sps? Would something like a Tek 4-39w T5 setup be enough T5 wise?