Never used aqualine. But Ive used pretty much every brand. It really depends on what you want. My favorite 14k was Phoenix, but my favorite bulb of all time was a ushio 20k+. Ive never used anything below 14k. The only time i would ever us a 10k would be as a grow tank. Some ppl say they go up to a 14k for more blue, i find that incorrect. IMO 14k is more of a crisp white with a hint of blue. If you want more blue go to 20k. 14k is a good compromise for growth and color but you will get good growth out of a 20k as well.