Lighting upgrade - Need advise

I am taking the first steps to convert my 240g FOWLR to a reef.
I need some things cleared up about lighting. The tank is 8'x2'x2'. I am current running 8x65w PC's under the canopy.

I want to start off with some soft corals: Xenia, Colt, Kenya, shrooms, etc.
Then move into Star Polyps, Zoos, Leathers.
And eventually into SPS like Montipora Capricornas, staghorn, etc.

I started to take off my PC's and replace with T5's. But when I ran the #'s Watts per Gallon I would need 16 bulbs (8 on each side).

I also thought about leaving my PC's and adding a single 250W MH on each end over the LR ledges. But I worry about the heat it might put out. I don't want to buy a chiller.

I also thought about LED arrays on the ends. Now I'm just confused.

Can someone help and give some advice on the best lighting for what I need without overdoing it?
HELP..

acanman;3847734; said:

i would go halides with t5's.. its not so much about watts per gallon anymore its all about your par in the tank for corals...

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I was worried about water temp. Does anyone know how many degrees each 250W MH will raise the water temp? Anyway to calculate this?

I really don't want to have to go out and buy a $1000 chiller + pump too.

acanman;3847820; said:

you can always raise the halide up away from the water more. mine is about 10 inches about the tank

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That's the issue, I have a canopy on the tank and the bulb would be about 10-11" off the water surface.


Are you running any other lights? I was worried about 2 - 4' (4 bulb) T5 HO's + at least 2 MH's over the LR and corals.

Maybe I would need fans on the ends of the tank.

Just wonder if only having 2 MH's would look wierd with the center a little darker.