I am going to recomend spending money on the ballast formost and then getting cheaper bulbs to start with. at 36" lenght and a 16" max width you can get away with a DE style but the bulbs can be a little more in cost. what I did and would do again is go with PFO 250 watt HQI ballast and then if say sun aquatics is still in business get there SE 10K bulbs for cheep. (J&L carries them also I think) then from there you have the widest selection of bulbs for upgrading at a later date. I would also throw a couple 96 watt URI super atinic VHO in there powered by a WH7 ballast.
as for mounting the MH you will have to mount them on either end pointing each other because of the width of your tank. this is how I have mine on a 36" x 24" tank and it lights it up quite nice.
Steve
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 *everything said above is just my opinion, and may or may not reflect the views of this BBS, its Operators, and its Members. If cornered on any “opinion” I post I will totally deny having ever said this in a Court of Law…Unless I am the right one*
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