Lake Malawi Species • Best single bulb for showing mbunas?

[BRolls]

I have a normal aqueon 55g kit. It takes two t8 18" bulbs. So I need to find one bulb that will make my fish pop. Hopefully someone will give me some assistance who has had this bulb. Just to clarify these are two single bulb fixtures not a double bulb fixture. I was either looking at the zoo-med 50-50 reef bulb or the zoo-med ocean sun bulb. If someone has only this bulb alone and not combined with another please show me a picture because it would help.
Here are links to each bulb so you know
http://www.petco.com/product/10386/Zoo- ... Bulbs.aspx
http://www.petco.com/product/11443/Zoo- ... ulbs-11443
I was also considering an actinic bulb like this
http://www.petco.com/product/10387/Zoo- ... ulbs-10387

[13razorbackfan]

It really is personal taste. You could do two 50/50 bulbs, one 6500k and one actinic, one 10000k and one actinic....etc....

I use two actinics and one 6500k and one 10000k.

[BRolls]

It really is personal taste. You could do two 50/50 bulbs, one 6500k and one actinic, one 10000k and one actinic....etc....

I use two actinics and one 6500k and one 10000k.

Well this is just a 1 bulb fixture, i need the same bulb otherwise 1 side of the tank would look different from the other. Just figure it as if I only needed one bulb for my tank. Im kind of in between the ocean sun and the 50-50? I really wanted to see pictures of each.

[13razorbackfan]

Oh..I see...I was thinking front to back. Yeah...I personally would want the 50/50 although it would not be as bright it would certainly highlight the colors of the fish. Again...a lot of this is personal taste.

[BullyBuddies]

My aqueon fixture came with a 6500k. My yellow and orange fish looked dull. I replaced the bulb with their 8000k full spectrum and everything looks great.

[quentin8]

+1
I love the aqueon 8000k, I tried the 50/50 and it was to blue and the 6500 was to yellow. When ever I get some extra cash to throw around im gonna try the 10000k and see if its anybetter. but for the time being I really like the 8000k, it makes my blue and yellow fish stand out.

[DJRansome]

I always liked the Reef color before I switched to planted tanks.

[BRolls]

I think Im using the 8000k aqueon bulbs right now, Do they look redish purple?

[BullyBuddies]

I don't see the red in my 8000k, but they do have a purple tint to them.

[BRolls]

I don't see the red in my 8000k, but they do have a purple tint to them.

Yeah, than thats what I have because it says 8000k on the bulb and they are purple. There kind of growing on me but I think instead of purple tint, I would like a blue tin to them. I was thinking the 50 50 bulb will do that.

[car0linab0y]

50/50 10000k/Actinic