New Lighting?

[brads]

Right, my Rena 42G tank has been running for 3 months now. Fish are looking good and my plants are growing and looking pretty healthy (touch wood).
I have still got the lighting that came with the tank. X2 white tubes. I hear that you can buy much better looking lighting, but I haven't got a clue what to get. I'm afraid that if I go into my LFS with no idea of whats what they will just sell me tubes that are not selling well!!
A work mate of mine says he has one white light and one blue. he says it looks really good.
What i'm after is something that will bring out the colours of the fish and that will be good for the plants. I do get a bit of algae but it's not much of a problem. I have my lighting on a timer 2 hours in the morning and 7 hours 4pm until 11pm every day.
could some of you guys and girls point me in the wright direction as what to buy. I have got £20 of vouchers for my LFS as a christmas pressie.

Cheers and happy new year to you all Brads

oh how about some pictures of you tanks lighting!!!!!

 

[brads]

Right, my Rena 42G tank has been running for 3 months now. Fish are looking good and my plants are growing and looking pretty healthy (touch wood).
I have still got the lighting that came with the tank. X2 white tubes. I hear that you can buy much better looking lighting, but I haven't got a clue what to get. I'm afraid that if I go into my LFS with no idea of whats what they will just sell me tubes that are not selling well!!
A work mate of mine says he has one white light and one blue. he says it looks really good.
What i'm after is something that will bring out the colours of the fish and that will be good for the plants. I do get a bit of algae but it's not much of a problem. I have my lighting on a timer 2 hours in the morning and 7 hours 4pm until 11pm every day.
could some of you guys and girls point me in the wright direction as what to buy. I have got £20 of vouchers for my LFS as a christmas pressie.

Cheers and happy new year to you all Brads

oh how about some pictures of you tanks lighting!!!!!

I take nobody knows anthing about lighting then!!

 

[blue acara]

id go for a triplus tube. mine is made by interpet and gives a nice pinkish light, they are good for plants as well.

a blue or moonlight tube would look good, on there own it looks like night time or dusk in the tank but these are less good for plants

 

[SuperColey1]

I bought a new tube to replace a filckering one today, and WOW

My Red Betta is now wonderful amazing red, tot he point of a unique deep scarlet.
My Black Mollies are now more than just black fish. Each scale is detailed and they are now raising their dorsal fins proud as they swim around the tank.
My dull creamy/white balloon mollie is now an incredible silver-white almost like icy colour.
Don't know what the plecs are like, they're hidin in their bogwood cave. lol

I bought this tube for the plants really as I am about to embark on a mad planting frenzy and the packet says:

-Accentuates reds and blues
-Optimum light for photosynthesis
-Promotes plant growth

It is the 'Arcadia Original Tropical Lamp' I also bought 2 Arcadia reflectors which clip onto my old light and new light each side of the hood.

Going to buy another to replace the other side tomorrow after seeing this one.

Cannot say how please I am with it.

I'll try and take pics, but I have a rubbish cheapo camera and the water has loads of tannin from a new piece of bogwood so the pics dont come out too good.