Polishing an Aluminum Reflector

Amphitrite and I both got Pico tanks for the club contest. Same model Finnex tanks. The only difference was that her clip on light was red, while mine was black. However, it looks like they used a different manufacturer for her red light. The reflector in her light was polished much better than mine. I am actually happy with the output of the light (I got the blue-white 26w) but the slight difference in reflector quality makes a very noticable difference in the light directed down into the tank.
I am thinking about getting some very high grit sand paper (wet sanding) and buffing compound and improving the quality of mine.
Does anyone know if normal reflectors get a protective coat on them of some kind? Has anyone done anything like this? Will I turn my reflector into a curved piece of rust a month or so down the road?
 
Well since no one replied I did this anyway. Posting in case anyone is interested.

Here is what it looked like after I initially tried to just polish it with normal metal polish:
IMAG0017.jpg
alt="">

Here is what I ended up with:
IMAG0018.jpg
alt="">

It seems t
 
Top