36" Tek lights

[my2rotties]

I purchased two of these units with 6 bulbs in each. There are two 39w aquablues, two 39w mid-days and two 39w aquaclears. I bought them both for $500 from the fellow that sold me the 260g tank. I saw the thread about MH lighting and the fact that the Tek lights are as good or comparable. With these lights can I have things like clams and corals? I really do not want MH lighting, but if it is needed in the future for my dream tank, I guess I would have to do it.

I do not know a whole lots about these lights, or how to time them correctly. I Each one has two separate switches that turn on either two lights, or four, or all if they are both on. How many hours do they need to be on and which ones? Is there a link anyone knows of that could tell me about this. I hate asking questions that have been asked already, but when I do a search I have such an overload of info, it gets overwhelming.

I also do not know how many hours are on these lights. Is there a way of telling they are past their lifespan? They are really darned bright, but that may not mean much.The seller said there is about eight months on them. Will they produce huge amounts of heat? It does not seem like it, but they have not been on an operating system, and will not be for quite some time yet.

Thanks in advance for any help or info. I have had a marine aquarium for ten months, but it is not big and it does not have these lights, although the ones I upgraded to cost a small fortune in comparison to these lights that appear to be so much more.