I am currently building up this new 6 foot tank. At this stage plan for FOWLR but pretty sure in future will become a reef tank. And I know FOWLR tank won't need metal halide normal one will do and reef tank definitely needs metal halide. I want to save electricity bill. So here is the question:
Do you guys suggest me buy a metal halide housing now or just normal fluo housing? I am thinking if I buy a 6 foot long lamp housing with 3 metal halides, 2 actinic fluos but only switch on one metal halide and one actinic fluo I think the power usage will be roughly the same as I running a fluo housing with ALL normal fluo lights on (There will be at least 4 fluos to be running at the same time I think)?
If I only switch on one metal halide in the middle will it bright enough to light up the whole tank if I am going to hang it on the ceiling about 2 feet away from the water?
Do you guys suggest me buy a metal halide housing now or just normal fluo housing? I am thinking if I buy a 6 foot long lamp housing with 3 metal halides, 2 actinic fluos but only switch on one metal halide and one actinic fluo I think the power usage will be roughly the same as I running a fluo housing with ALL normal fluo lights on (There will be at least 4 fluos to be running at the same time I think)?
If I only switch on one metal halide in the middle will it bright enough to light up the whole tank if I am going to hang it on the ceiling about 2 feet away from the water?