I am sure I will get flamed for this but...
You can do Maximas and SPS coprals on VHO alone. I have a 135 with 30 or so SPS's and several 3" plus Maximas under 6 x 160 watt VHO and it works, although some of the SPS's dont look quiet as nicely colored as the parent colonies in the other tank I got. None the less its do-able.
Personally, I like the lighting arrangement on the other 135 that I have my "Parent colonies" in as well as several more Maximas and Croceras (sp?). It has 3 x 250 watt Mh 10k and 2 x 160 watt VHO's (I use URI Professional series only on ALL of my VHO's)and 1 Blue Moon 40 watt (that runs 24/7). Colors are "off the chain" with the SPS and the clams look too cool. This lighting arrangement gives me awesome growth, great color and has a slight bluish hue to the light but not so much that it washes everything out in blue light.
Prehaps I am just biased, but I never really cared for PC's at all irregardless of the combination of the bulbs. The VHO's in my opinion are much better from a light rendition stand point. If your on a budget you can get away with the VHO on Maximas and SPS corals. But for better growth and better color, and Croceras... Mh/VHO would be the way to go! I have a couple of places I have used to get my light retro's (as I have built most of my equipment) and have been very pleased with the service I have received. At anyrate spring for the extra dough and get electronic ballast! no matter which route you end up going.
JMHO
You can do Maximas and SPS coprals on VHO alone. I have a 135 with 30 or so SPS's and several 3" plus Maximas under 6 x 160 watt VHO and it works, although some of the SPS's dont look quiet as nicely colored as the parent colonies in the other tank I got. None the less its do-able.
Personally, I like the lighting arrangement on the other 135 that I have my "Parent colonies" in as well as several more Maximas and Croceras (sp?). It has 3 x 250 watt Mh 10k and 2 x 160 watt VHO's (I use URI Professional series only on ALL of my VHO's)and 1 Blue Moon 40 watt (that runs 24/7). Colors are "off the chain" with the SPS and the clams look too cool. This lighting arrangement gives me awesome growth, great color and has a slight bluish hue to the light but not so much that it washes everything out in blue light.
Prehaps I am just biased, but I never really cared for PC's at all irregardless of the combination of the bulbs. The VHO's in my opinion are much better from a light rendition stand point. If your on a budget you can get away with the VHO on Maximas and SPS corals. But for better growth and better color, and Croceras... Mh/VHO would be the way to go! I have a couple of places I have used to get my light retro's (as I have built most of my equipment) and have been very pleased with the service I have received. At anyrate spring for the extra dough and get electronic ballast! no matter which route you end up going.
JMHO
