What wattage PC lighting (several questions)

[krux]

Im trying to upgrade my lighting in my 36" wide 30gal tank, and have pretty much set my mind on the PC option due to several healthy setups that I have seen that use them.
I was going to go with the 55w bulbs, but one future option that I would like to leave open is a 65gal tall tank to make for a reef tank, allowing for gradiated light throughout the entire depth.
If i am going for a deeper tank in the future, do i need to get the 96w balast and bulbs? I was going to get a 4 bulb 55w PC balast with 2 daylight and 2 actinic, but if I go with 96w will I get near the same output with a 2 bulb setup? Can I go 1 daylight (10000K) and one actinic, or do I need to go a actinic and a 50/50?
The math makes it close, but I'm not really up on how the lumens will work out. I would eventually like to have as large a range of options for corals as possible, so im not really customizing for one type.
Finally, is it unheard of to put a 36" light strip in the hood for a 48" tank? Can I clump the corals near the center so that they arent off to the sides of the well lit area, or is that ultimately unhealty? Id like to be able to use the lights if I ever stumble along on a good deal for a shallower, but longer tank.
Thanks in advance!

 

[krux]

Shameless bump.
Ive been looking at some more of the coral and invert options at my lfs. I for sure want to get some type of anenome for my pair of percs, and there are a couple nice mushrooms and a toadstool that my gf says are "pretty" so i probably would want a couple of those. Hopefully that will help narrow the scope for now as to what i need lights for. Thanks.

 

[hondo]

go with the 96w and leave yourself some room to add MH when you upgrade to the bigger tank. Or add both now if you have the $$$. Remember the 65 is a taller tank and your PC won't cut it in a tall tank so you will need the MH once you change tanks.

 

[krux]

Aha! A Portland person. Moving there in a year to go to a culinary academy and will be buying the tank when I get there. Once I make the move maybe you can suggest a good reef store.

 

[lordofthereef]

if you are a do it yourselfer like me, and love to save money, then check out hmlighting.com. get some ideas on ballasts, then go to a local electic supply store and order what you picked out. i use workhorse ballasts to run my pc and no bulbs, and magnetek to run my vho's.

 

[hondo]

hey Krux
There are several decent if not good LFS in the Portland area. And also a reef club so you'll have lot's of friends when you move here. hope you like rain