more lighting questions

[m3rcury]

ok, i feel like i've read TOO much at this point. so, i would like just a basic answer and maybe an explanation of why you suggest one or the other.

i have a 30 gal tank that i want to make into a reef tank. the dimensions are 30 x 19 x 12.

which would be better:
1) 150 watt HQI (e.g. coralife pendant ~$220)
2) 130 watt PC (e.g. coralife lunar aqualight ~$130)

I really can't go much over $220 for lights, but would like to be able to grow a range of corals. I am aware that 250 watt halide would be best, but i just can't afford that. So, would the 150 watt halide allow me to grow many more things than the PC?

thanks folks. i feel like i'm on information overload at this point.

[WaterKeeper]

Short answer then-
Go with the HQI.
;)

[bertoni]

Either would be fine, but IME the PC would be good for soft corals, but not so good for the high-light stony corals. I have both (over a 29g) and think the MH is more flexible.

[m3rcury]

will the HQI pendant be much more hot than the PC? my tank is in my office that has no outside wall, no window, and definitely the hottest room in the house. It is almost always 5-10 degrees hotter than the rest of the house.

[m3rcury]

last thing. i've seen people talk about aquatraders. is this MH fixture too good to be true? 175 watts for under $200?

http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=217

thanks for being patient with me. i'm a grad student, so i don't have much money and want to make sure i make the correct choice.

[bertoni]

Watts are watts. If the power draw is the same, the heat will be the same. I don't notice any difference between the two setups, although I do have good airflow across the tanks.

[Rockhead21564]

IMO, MH is the way to go. What about actinic lighting? If you don't have any, go with the PC and 50/50 bulb. down the road you can switch it to actinic only and add 250watt MH.

[Avi]

I would go with the SE metal halide. Make it a 14,000K and you won't have to spend any more for supplemental actinics.

[m3rcury]

sorry, but what is SE?

[bertoni]

SE = single-ended, which is a screw-in type of bulb. He has a point. I just bought a setup that uses the Iwasaki 14,000 K bulb and am looking forward to seeing it in action.

This site has a ton of data:

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/

Here's a picture of an SE bulb:

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_lighting_metal_halide_bulbs_single-ended_6500K_iwasaki.asp

[bertoni]

I should add that there are some nice 14,000 K double-ended bulbs as well.