Lighting question

[SunfishFun]

I've just started curing live rock in my first reef - 60 gal tank (48"L x 15"W x 18"H). I've read Tullock's book and others, and spent hours and hours researching online, but am still stuck on the lighting.

I'm going for Indo-Pacific inshore-type reef, like soft corals, LPS stony corals, lower-light clams, a few fish, some mobile creatures and a bubble tip with clownfish.

I figure if I meet minimum requirements in terms of both watts and lumens for these animals, I'll be fine, but I've found different suggestions on what these requirements are. (4,650 lm vs. 25,000 lm; 180W vs. 300W). I'm concerned with energy consumption (=my bill!), which is one reason I'm interested in PC's. I really don't think I need MH/HQI lighting.

I've been looking at retro kits online to buy or as models to put together from components. I have a used DIY partly open-sided canopy with 48" top only reflector.

I'd appreciate any suggestions!

 

[fishpoo]

if your not going with mh, my choice would be vho. if your setup with a dsb, then you're only 15 or so inches from the top. put the light lovers upward and you'll be fine. i've used pc's and although they give you a more intense light when new, they don't last half as long as vho on a icecap ballast. i've got sps about 8" under the lamps and they are growing and keeping their color. also vho with give you a wide choice for lamps.