choosing the right lighting for your cichlid tank

[norbay_7]

Looking for a light for my 72" Cichlid tank, but it seems like there aren't many options that fit. Tank's got a black background with sand, any suggestions would be great, thanks.

[brewista]

I'm no expert, but from what I've gathered, cichlids don't require a lot of light. They actually seem to prefer lower levels of illumination. You might consider using a 48-inch light, placing it in the middle of the tank - this could create a pretty cool lighting effect, with the black background and sand really making it stand out.

[coltin]

Is it a planted setup with smaller cichlids, or a more traditional rift lake tank with minimal to no vegetation?