In search for effective lighting for my 55

IMO I would trust Tangster's opinion! He won't lead you down the wrong path. Everyone hit the nail on the head when they said lighting is one thing you can't cheap out on, it usually bites you in the butt down the road. If need be, hold off on the lights for another couple of months until you can afford some better ones, it will be worth the wait.

I personally have 2 250watt MH on my 55, way overkill but I thought I might want to upgrade to a 120 or something of the likes down the road and if I do I will not have to upgrade my lights. Also, like many have mentioned, I don't have to worry about not being able to keep something I want down the road due to insufficient lights. But I have to admit, I got somewhere in the neighborhood of $700-$800 in my lights, but I won't be sorry down the road!! Just food for thought!

 

Thank you guys for the help will post some pictures later of my tank.

 

When people say 4 watts per gallon do they mean the daytime main lights only or are they including the actinics also?

 

I believe it's the total watts of all the lights.