Lighting - how much and how high?

[Salt4Us]

Just set up the 40 gal long (cycled too). We put in 4 blue legged hermits for now. The question I have is lighting. Originally I had planned on putting in two 96W PC (one 10K, one actinic). I DIY'd the stand & hood. Right now I only have NO florecents (one 10K, one actinic, both 25W). The lights are 8 inches above the water.

My question is because the lights are so high above the water, would I still get good lighting & light penetration w/ two 96W PC's or would it better to use MH & PC combination?

Any thoughts & suggestions are welcome!
BTW, the tank is height is 17 inches.

Thanks!
John

[reefrunner69]

What do you want to keep in the tank? This is what will determine what lighting you should get. Personally I love MH, but it is more expensive and you would need two bulbs for a 36" tank.

[Salt4Us]

As for fish, we going with Yellow Watchman Goby, Royal Gramma Basslet & would like to go with Flame Hawk and/or Fiji Blue Orange Tail Damsel.

As for corals, we're looking at hammer coral, ricordia, colt coral, pastel favia, frogspawn & some others (the ones listed is what we've decided on so far). Possibly some macroalgea too. We don't want zoos or leather..at least not at this time.

[reefrunner69]

If your not gonna do SPS or clams in this tank, I think your be fine with the pc's, you can also add some type of riser to mount the lights to that will get them closer to the water.

[Salt4Us]

I don't think we're going to do any SPS or clams. That being the case then we'll go with PC's. I was thiking about putting a board attafched the to top..sort of the reinforce the lid/top before putting on the PC's.

Thanks for the suggestion/advice Kevin!

John