Need help with aquarium lighting.

[jcap123]

Hello everyone,
I was wondering if anyone has a successful way and inexpensive way for setting up high intensity lighting in my aquarium. I am not sure what to buy. I want to set up a nice planted aquarium and I know most plants need different lighting. I currently have a 55 gallon aquarium with some low light plants but just want a better lighting to make them grow like crazy as I am looking to grow them for occasionally selling. The substrate I am using is Floramax by carib sea. I am thing a single strip to go over the entire tanks. Should it have 1, 2, or 3 bulbs to get the best plant growth? Are there any high intensity lighting that are energy efficient? Please let me know thank you monster fish keepers.

 

[BIG-G]

I am not meaning to sound like a smart@$$, but this question can be answered so many different ways its really going to be up to you to do some more research.

If you want energy efficient look at LED lighting.
If you want extreme intensity look at Metal halide.
If you want a blend of both intensity and somewhat efficient look at T5 fluorescent.
If you want inexpensive look and standard work shop fluorescent fixtures.