Metal Halides... 175/250s or 400??

[BCOrchidGuy]

Okay I was so happy with my power compacts but then I decided to move the aquarium and build it into a wall. I took all the coral and live rock out of my 72 gallon and put them into a 45 gallon, some of the live rock went into my fish only tank. The 45 is a 3 foot version, it is sitting directly under a 400 watt MH and the corals etc are all looking awesome, everything even the mushrooms is looking great.
Now before I get the whole works set up again I'm trying to decide if I should go with 3 175 watt MHs I was thinking 2 10,000k bulbs and a 5500k in the center... or should I just stick with 2 175s of 10,000k, 2 250s at 14,000 or should I just go for a 400watt. Priced out the 400 is the cheapest way to go if I get a radium. The two 250s are the next cheapest and of course the 3 175s are the most expensive. The tank is 48x18x19 tall. With the tank being only 19 tall and given that I will have a 2 inch sand bed in there, I think the 175s and the 250s will give me lots of light, the 400 though could be just the ticket as long as I keep it at a decent height above the water.
Whats your opinion, real experience.....