40g reg Lighting Options?

[jkinros]

Hey guys, need a little bit of help, kinda new and would like to get all your opinions.
I just recently upgraded to a 40g reg 36x15x17 or something like that, its a standard 40 by Leemar. I have and outer orbit fixture with 150hqi 14k and 2x96 pc that I'm running right now. Everything is doing real well and I don't know if it would be better to change to all T5s. I have an AquaticLife T5 system that I am thinking about using, 36" with 4 stock bulbs (2white and 2 blue)
I have sofites and lps in my tank right now but I really want to get into sps. Tank still needs to mature some more before I try out some frags but everything else is doing great with the outer orbit fixture.
What do you guys think I should do...? Any suggestions....? You guys are the pros and I need your help.
Thanks

 

[True Blue]

I think you will be fine with the Outer Orbit.
I know someone who is running the same fixture on a 60 gallon, and he can keep some SPS.
Just keep your parameters in check and get some good flow going on.
I don't like running T5's with less than 6 bulbs for a full spectrum.
I'm sure someone else will chime in if they disagree though.

 

[NVTE]

As Regular 40 gallon tank. I assume there is center brace for the tank which block light from the MH. If you used them with standard legs, I feel like the metal halide doesn't spread out like hang it little higher. It is fine with some SPS as long as you don't put them far away from the center light.
As you see my All T5 tank and frag tank. Frag tank with 2 light and I have some SPS in there and they do grow, so I think depend on what kind of SPS you put in the tank.
Of course my fixture is all ATI powermodule (some said it push out light twice as much as other fixture)
I checked out the AquaticLife T5 fixture with stocked bulbs, and my opinion is .. Weak. (just my opinion)

 

[silverarrow27]

I ran a single 250 mh that had excellent growth for a mixed reef for my first 40 gallon breeder tank I had years ago.