Brains smoking, Help choose lights

Ok, I'm setting up a 75g. I'm using a canopy. I cant make up my mind on what type of lighting i want to go with. I have 4 - 54w t-5s over the tank now, to start off i was going to go with two t5s and 2 - 250w DE with reef optic 3 reflectors and a 250w dual galaxy ballast from sunlight supply. that set up with bulbs will cost me $400 new. Now I have deviated to trying LED's, I was thinking of adding this kit 24 Premium LED Do-It-Yourself Retrofit Kit
along with the 4 - t-5. Close as i can figure this DIY finished will cost $320.
My third option is to just add 2 more t-5 retros for a total of 6 -54w t-5s. I'll have to add a few LEDs for the much loved shimmer affect which will bring the total of that to about $180.
I will be keeping a mixed reef with SPS, LPS, and softies. I guess my biggest want is growth which in my mind would come from the 250w DE's but thats just my opinion.
What do you think?

 

Oh yeah, you might want to know my tank measurements, it's a standard 48"x18"x20"D. I have a very thin sand bed, so there is about 18" of water to the top of the sand.

 

for growth you will want to go with the 250w. For color go with a t5 and LED combo.

If you do the halide route your bulb choice will make a big difference... I recommend phoenix 14k out of all the DE bulbs for both growth and color.
If you go with t5 2in10 will be able to help you with bulb choice.

I currently run halides and supplemental blue LEDs on my tank and it gives great color and this pop that is insane!

 

hello. i would stick with the 4 54w t5s for now and save up for a 6x 54w fixture like the nova extreme pro. i never recommend anyone to metal halides as they burn hot leading to possible tank overheating...and not to mention the electric bill. t5's are great and you will be able to keep whatever you desire with the 6 bulb fixture.

 

That was another question, if i was to go with the 4 - t5's and 24 LED's would it be best to run whiter bulbs in all 4 t5s since im guessing that the 12 blue leds will more than make up for color?
I have the Sunlight supply t5 retros, i really favor the reflectors that they use if i was to go with the all t5 route i would just add the other two i already have. there actually 60" retros but i could buy 2 48" bulbs and just cut the reflectors down to size.

 

Metal halide hands down dont as why just do it and you will see why!

 

Last tank i had set up was a 36g with a 250w de 14k and 4 24" t5s. I had killer growth in that tank. I just cant decide to go with what i know or try something new lol LEDs just look so freakin cool. heres some pics of my last tank with the medal halides http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off-your-fish-tanks/my-almost-year-old-36g-82298.html#post816303

 

Im running the phoenix 14k's with blue led strips. Without the leds the tank is very drab looking.

Leds give it an amazing pop to it.... other actinics supplementation doesnt compare IMHO

 

a watt costs the same no matter if its being used by a halide or a t5 or a LED. To be honest, halides put out much more light than t5's do on a watt per watt basis. But LEDs blow halides out of the water for light output per watt... its just more concentrated around a certain wavelength than that of a halide bulb.

 

LEDs plus halides is the way to go as of right now... the LEDs are only about 80% there. Two major issues are that they only produce very narrow ranges of wavelengths and they do not emit any form of UVA