Best lights for crisp color?

[Big Jay]

I have a 55 gallon with a twin bulb 48" Home Depot shop light mounted in the hood. Right now they are two GE aquarium bulbs. I am looking for something really crisp that's going to bring out the colors a little better in my rainbows, odessa barbs, and clown loaches.

Without going the PC/VHO route, what bulbs would you reccomend?

 

[jcardona1]

18,000K Power-Glo

 

[Big Jay]

18,000K Power-Glo

That was actually my first guess. Could i blend that with another bulb since i have two bulb fixture to get the best of both worlds?

I am a retiree of the mini-reef hobby so i am pretty good with SW/Reef stuff, not so much FW.

 

[jcardona1]

yeah you could mix it with whatever you like, but honestly though, the 18k is the best bulb for freshwater IMO. actinics look like crap on FW, and anything less than 10k really makes the fish look yellow

 

[abarilot]

Yes you can blend. I have a T5 dual setup with the life glo in the rear position for my plants and a power glo in front to make my fish's colors stand out.

 

[BPags52]

I've always liked my Aqua-Glo bulbs...i think they are rated the same as the Power-Glo? 18,000k

 

[arkmann]

You got photos of your tank with the light listed below? I'm very interested on how looks like and I'm also thinking of changing the bulbs in my tank.

18,000K Power-Glo

 

[jcardona1]

here's an older pic

 

[arkmann]

I am digging it! I guess I'll be buying new bulbs for my 5' Jebo fixture.

The longest they have is at 48" right?

here's an older pic

 

[jcardona1]

yup, thats the longest bulb out there