Lighting - how much?

[NASCAR_Dave]

I just posted this in DIY but wanted to get some responses to this here as this is my first aquarium.

In a nutshell, I plan to have Peacock Cichlids in my 135g tank with a few (10-15) live plants. How much lighting should I buy? I want to order from AHSupply but I don't want to get too much or too little. TIA for the help!

 

[ferret]

Not sure the length of your tank. If its how I imagine most tanks of that size to be (With two center braces) and the length is right, I'd consider 3 55 kits.. Or maybe 2 or 3 96watt kits. The 55 watt kits are made so that on a 48" tank, each light will fit over one of the two (three in your case?) open spaces. They 22" long. I believe the 96 watt kits are just under 35".

I've got a 4x55 watt on my 90 gallon. 110 watts on each side. It was a rather interesting hour putting it together, but it looks great.

 

[NASCAR_Dave]

Not sure the length of your tank.

Thanks, ferret. The tank is 72-1/2" long and has a wide glass plate in the middle, but other than that it is one long section. I would like to get two 36" lights or three 22" lights but I don't want to blind the fish (or my wife)!

 

[ferret]

Some of these people run 300-400 watts. I'd consider either 3 1x55 kits or a 6x55 if you want to go all out.