Lighting

I have no experience maintaining reef aquariums, although I have done
fish only marine tanks for awhile with much success (Never any problem
with diseases). My question is this: Is it possible to find adequate
lighting for marine aquariums in hardware stores? I have heard of
people from Universities using Phillips F40D bulbs for planted
freshwater aquariums with much success, apparently they emulate
sunlight very well. Has anyone ever tried using these with a reef
setup? Decent lighting seems to be so darn expensive with a reef
setup, I am a student and do not have much money.