picking lighting

im starting a 55 gallon reef tank/ what should i look for in my t-5 lights.
what color light. how many watts. pls help i want to buy the right thing:confused

 

4x54w T5-HO light fixture would be perfect. Try to get something with individually contoured reflectors (current Sundial fixture is what I have) or even better, actual individual reflectors (TEK light fixture or ATI fixture if you have money to burn). I use 2 ATI blue+ bulbs, 1 ATI Purple+ bulb, and a Giesemann 6000k daylight bulb (would have preferred a GE 6500k daylight bulb but the place where I ordered from doesn't carry them). Everything looks great with that bulb selection. Without a true daylight bulb your oranges, greens and yellows will not look as good.

 

What kind of look will this combo give? More blue with a touch of white?

 

Looks pretty white to me. White with a hint of blue, but not washed out. Too much blue and your yellows, greens and oranges don't look right. Here's a pic as close to true color as I can get (I can't quite figure out the settings on my camera ):

 

It looks good what kind of cam you got?

 

id say say 2 arlic blues and 10k whites for lightinging unless u plan on doining corarls. i have a od set up which i think is to strong strong 250 MH and 4 aricric blues blues that would be normal. the wife likes and ahate the MH cause they they put out to much heat .but if u get the rite wats shold b ok. ive been thinking bout dropping my 250 to like 150 for the hell of it. but when i mopve ill have a canopy to help maybe.