[Fish_Dude]

What lighting do you all run? I figure this is the best place to post this as I am specific to malawi cichlids and want your input.

This tank is 2' wide(180g) has large haps like Buccos, champs, Nimbochromis, Protomelas and some larger peacocks.

I want the best lighting, is it better to:

- Do 2 double strips, so I can run two different tubes at different color temps?

- do 2 single strips with something like a 'powerglo' or 'aquasun'

- do 4 single strips, 2 on front, 2 on back.

BTW, I posted this here because I'm interested in bringing out the colors in Malawi Cichlids, and I'm thinking that this is where most Malawi People would

 

[Fish_Dude]

Also, what tubes do you recommend.

I run a 'colormax' on my 125 and am happy with it, but I've heard some good things about the PowerGlo and AquaGlo, as well as the aquasun(??) series?

Some say to do one full sprectum and 1 actinic. I see that the colormax is HALF the cost of the powerglo, I'm assuming this is for good reason... but I also don't want my Yellows to be orange...

Thanks!

 

[gaqua]

I'd recommend two strips, and have one 10,000K bulb and one Actinic.

The combination of these two bulbs really pops the colors of the fish and makes the whites and blues really pop out. It doesn't make your yellow fish orange, either, if you're worried.

 

[geoff_tropheus]

I would run 2-36" light strips with double bulbs in each.

The Powerglo would be best in my opinion.

 

[bigfishferd]

I run 3 double tube strips on my 180g.

2 are 36" that I always keep up front to give me 6' of light across which is great for viewing the fish and 1 is 48" that I keep centered in the middle.

All 3 strips have 1 full spectrum and 1 actinic.