It sounds to me like the LFS is trying to pass some of their more expensive lamps. Smartlights are PC, which is a good lighting system, however the NEED aspect is not true. For a 55, I would highly suggest using an IceCap 660 ballast with 4 X48" 110-watt URI bulbs, 2 Actinic03 blue, and 2 Actinic/10,000k. This will give you a 440-watt total system, or 8 watts/gal, enough to keep almost any type of coral, invert, or clam available. If you are going reef, this will assure you that you will have no animals die from lack of lighting, making it much easier to focus on other factors, such as water quality and current. The entire setup should run you around $350, give or take, depending on where you get it. HTH
