When we had our 55 reef up we had only VHO. We managed quite well with them. Placement of corals is the key if you want to keep sps or lps. We had a green open brain that was the size of a dinner plate! And green staghorn, tricolored acro, and a clam or 2. I never had any luck with anemones and they never stay put anyway! lol
Now that we have the 125 I love the MH shimmer but we need one more. We only have 2 175watt MH and really need 3 but they are so darned expensive! Ah well gotta do what ya gotta!
Good luck!