LF - Lighting Advice

[smalltownfan]

I'm plannng for my 180 g S/A build. Lots of root, plants, tetras, plecos, cories and in the future a few wild angels and discus.  Its a 72" x 24" x 24"h

I've been doing a lot of looking on the net and have decided to build my own stand and canopy with DIY T5HO lighting. I'd like to ask other people here on the Green Side for their advice on the lighting to put in. I am sure many of you have stories of learning the hard way by trial and error. I would prefer to skip this expensive step and go straight to "If this was your tank and with what you have learned, what would you install for lighting and how many watts?"
Also, where is the best place, local or online, for the lighting parts?

Hank

[Toss]

Are you planning for hightech tank or low tech, I mean with pressurized CO2 and what not?
What kind of plants do you have in mind?
Will you do foreground/carpeting plant?
The reason asking is to know what kind of final "look" of the tank you like and then work backward from there.
If you go biotope for discus and angel, then it is going to be more roots than plants, then less light and no need for CO2.

[jetstream]

Ya, if discus is one of your new tank's choice, you don't need to worry much about what kind of lighting to use because you won't have too many choice of plants that will do well under high temperature! Just my $0.02 

[smalltownfan]

Ya, if discus is one of your new tank's choice, you don't need to worry much about what kind of lighting to use because you won't have too many choice of plants that will do well under high temperature! Just my $0.02 

I wasn't thinking, forgot about the higher temerature requirement, scratch the discus...but then again the 90g will be empy, hmmmm  maybe she'll let me keep it along with the 180g.
I'm going to stay at or near the temperature I have now 76⁰. I presently use pressurized C0₂ with ferts. I want to keep the heavily planted look; spiral vals, various swords, various crypts. I have edged away from a total S/A biotope and will be taking a bit of artistic freedom to include red lotus, pogos, rotala and several other varieties that I enjoy seeing in the tank. To keep the wattage at about 2.5 times the water, I estimate 450 watts. I'm looking for advice on bulbs, fixtures and placement. Will T5HO give me enough light or should I go with halides?