new lights

[mamie]

how do you know when it's time to change the light in your tank???

[Vincenzo.]

8months.

[mamie]

I just bought the tank about 1 month ago...how do I know if it needs changing it's a 55 gallon breeder tank she called it and so it's only 1 long light

[Vincenzo.]

depends what u want to keep in it.

[mamie]

I have cichlids in it

[Vincenzo.]

im no expert on cichlids, but i think u can get away with it. If u wanted a planted tank, u will need to up grade.

[mamie]

the reason why I went with cichlids was because I wanted to see their color so I will see what I can get for my huge light fixture I have there lol

[Vincenzo.]

go with T5's.

[Bees]

If you don't plan on having any plants in the tank then you can really go high on the light spectrum and get an 18k bulb.  The reds and blues in your will be highly accentuated but any yellow fish will appear orange.  Sounds like you have about a 36" length so you can pick up a bulb at any major pet store.  It will run you around $25.

As for when to change the bulb, if you don't have plants then it doesn't really matter.