Lights to show fish colors

[Ttw]

Often the lights used in the aquarium do not show the fish very well. In the sunlight our apistos look like jewels. Then in the aquarium the fish look various shades of brown. The 6500K plant lights don't seem to help. What lights have others found that compliment the fish colors?

 

[gerald]

I think the problem is more with the angle of the light than the type of light. If you can arrange the lights toward the front of the tank, rather than shining straight down in the middle, more color will be reflected toward you. Cichlids and many other fish tilt the flat side of their body toward the sun when they want to display at each other.

 

[slimbolen99]

Alot of it depends on the fish; for lake malawi fish, I like to use a 6500k and 10000k bulb to accentuate the blues.
For apistos, I use a 6500k and 5500k bulb; with dark substrate.

A darker substrate and the proper decor will bring the colors out of the fish. I also like the tanin look, so I use panty hose "bags" I make with peat moss in them and put them in the tank.