Help with lighting decision please....

[returnedreefer]

Trying to iron out the plan before starting my new reef and have come down to lighting. There seems to be a consensus that the future is in LED lighting. However, I also understand that their is a great variation in "ok" LED lighting and "great" LED lighting. On to the question.....
For my starter build, I would like to have proportional LR, a Sand bed, and a few fish. I also would like to start a collection of coral (Softies and LPS). I dont want to travel down the path of MH or High end LED's as I dont see a need for it as of yet and want to keep my cost down for starters. I can always upgrade! I am trying to decide which route to go between a lower end LED (something like the marineland reef capable setup) or a t5 setup (something like the Deep Blue Sea Solar extreme Quads). Can you folks help with some of the pros/cons of each and if either are a good decision for what I have laid out?
Thanks in Advance!

 

[1guydude]

pros of the marineland
no bulb change
no k spectrum change in old bulbs
cost of e bill will be a lil less
shimmer
cons
grows softies and lps toward the surface.
color is a bit 14k ish
IMO ive never seen a marineland in person but they are a lil weak everyone says... go with a 4bulb t5 unit and upgraded bulbs. U can grow sps with t5ho!
So the t5s will be more spendy in the end but u will prob be set on light. Unless u chose to upgrade later like u said.
my .02