lighting help please

[Richer]

Sounds like you're looking at PC fixtures and perhaps VHO fixtures. Both fixture will work fine if you're planning on keeping mainly softies, and only a few selected sps corals. I agree with what Anthony said. I would just go for a MH setup if possible. I had a 2x96watt PC fixture over my 30 gallon tank. Initially I loved the setup, but only a couple months later I found myself upgrading to 2x175watt MH setup. I've also heard that PC bulbs fade out rather quickly over a relatively short period of time. I think Bob_I was one of those people who experienced it. I've seen it happen on my plant tank as well.

For a tank like yours I would personally go with a 2x250watt MH setup with actinic supplements (either VHO or PC) being optional. That should allow you to be able to keep just about everything available on the market. There are a few things you can do to keep costs down if that is an issue. Buying bare ballasts from places like Bartle and Gibson should help reduce costs greatly. DIYing your canopy will always save you money (or even finding someone on this board to DIY it for you). Those Arc bulbs from aquaria.ca are pretty inexpensive.
I bought my 175watt ballasts from Bartle and Gibson for 63 bucks each, much cheaper than what J&L had to offer. My reflector, socket and 175watt 10000k bulbs I bought from J&L. If those Arc bulbs were available at that time I would have gotten a couple of 14000k bulbs from aquaria.ca instead.

HTH
-Rich