Proper Tank Lighting for cichlids

[DallasP]

Im in a bit of a rut at the moment. My tank is 6 feet long. I've looked and looked for some sort of lighting thatll give this tank its proper lighting. I imagined Id go the HomeDepot range and purchase a few of those 4' 2 bulb fixtures and place 2 of them side by side across the tank. Im setting this up with a pulley system so when I lift the top off to clean or arrange things, ill pull the wire/chain to raise the lights up off the tank until I do what I needed to do and then slowly lower them back onto the aquarium top or hanging just above the water, seperating the water and the lights would be either screen or fiberglass. So how should I go about this? What types of bulbs wil I need. Im trying to go a semi-cheap route atm until I can slowly purchase things little by little. Im open to everyones suggestions :)

[iangangoo]

I have a 90 gallon 4ft tank, I went to Rona and bought a standard 2 bulb ballast and put it right down on my glass sliders. I went to Big Al's and got 2 bulbs one blue and one that simulates sun light. I had to remove the plastic screen to allow more light to come in, so far so good and it cost me $20 for the ballast and $50 for the bulbs...

[DallasP]

and theres plenty of light? I want my fish colors to stand out nicely and it be perfect for their conditions. What you mentioned sounds like a splendid idea but my ballast I got now is only 4', so im going to buy 2 ballasts to put on top of the tank.

[iangangoo]

yes there is plently of light, you can buy the bulbs that mimic the sun, also do you have glass sliders?

[DallasP]

Id like to create something like glass sliders. We are having to build a top for this tank since the tank itself was a custom designed tank. Im having a debate how the lights will be, hanging from the ceiling or sitting directly on top of the glass. What doy uo think I should do to make this as best and safe as possible for my fish friends?

[iangangoo]

I laid my lights right on top of the glass towards the back, so when I flip the lid open it just rests on the ballast itself, been working fine for me so far

[DallasP]

That would be an issue for me. I've looked and looked for a 6 foot system and honestly I cant afford at the moment to buy one of those $800 moon light systems. So im having to use 2 4 foot ones and put one in front of the other. But im going to build a top for it this weekend and use fiberglass as a top for it and create either hinged doors that raise up across it or try to rig something else up.

[beatle]

I ordered a pair of these to go over my soon-to-come 150. I also ordered a pair of 10000K bulbs in case I don't care for the Colormax:

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18360/si1379086/cl0/coralifefwt5aqualightdoublestriplight36