Reddit mentions of Finnex Ray2 Aquarium LED Daylight, 30-Inch

As bortko76 recommended, get a glass top such as the 30" Versa-Top, I picked one up at Petsmart for my 29g. Eheim canisters are good. I'm running an Eheim 2236.

For led lights, take a look at the Fugeray 30". These work very well for low light plants. The Ray 2 is available if you want to do a brighter light.

I have two light fixtures right now while I wait for the finnex ray 2 i have a fluorescent bulb in the back and an led light in the front. They've done a below average job with the plants sadly.

No cO2, correct. Lights are these purchased in Jan 2015.

As far as lighting, I love the Finnex FugeRay series. It has done my plants a world of good, and LED lights really make your aquarium look great. Hygros start to turn a pretty purple/red on their leaves in high lighting, so mine have started that on the top leaves! Also, I keep my light on for far longer than most people suggest. Since I have shrimp and otos, I have no problems with algae from it, and my plants are growing great. A 30-inch FugeRay is what you would use for a 20 long.

With heating, I would suggest this Fluval. It is digital which lets you be precise in your temperature.

As far as algae like I mentioned earlier, I have no problem with algae from my plants and algae eaters. I usually have my light on for roughly 14 hours per day, and have no problems. It also eliminated the brown algae that I had in my tank at first.

I would be wary of having that many platys. They breed like rabbits, so unless you have a local lfs that purchases fish or takes donations, you will soon overrun your tank with them, and I don't think any of your current stock will eat the fry except the platys. You will still have many that survive. Personally, I would decrease your platys and add more tetras. It's better to have a bigger school with shoaling species.

Definitely get an aeration system. Your fish will need it. I also suggest you get more than one hygro. They really help with nitrate levels, and usually turn two different colors with high light exposure.

As far as shorter, foreground, bushy plants, you can try some micro swords, dwarf baby tears, and some marimo moss balls as possibilities.

I use my old aquarium lights as plant lights. Nice and white. The ones I have are Finnex Ray 2, rated for high lighted tanks. Seems to be a really good light 1 year later on my vivarium. https://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Ray2-Aquarium-Daylight-30-Inch/dp/B00BDDIPAU

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I also keep one above my plant table to supplement the sunlight since my neighbor has a big tarp covered area blocking a good portion of the window.

Heres a good list of plants that you can read up on

Heres another good easy plants list

another list go easy plants/details

Easiest plants - Java moss, Anubias plants, Java Fern

For substrate i'd recommend going for ... 2 routes to use

1. Sand substrate and add flourish tabs
   
   
2. Going substrate that has ferts already - Eco complete add this at the bottom and top it off with some black sand like this
   
   After you do all that and pick up w.e plants you like. You need to buy liquid fertilizers to dose/make your plants healthier.
   
   You can also go the CO2 route but if this is expensive, go for the cheap route and buy Seachem Excel (liquid co2)
   
   

   Lighting:
   

   
   This is the best kind of lighting you can grab
   
   Or this one
   
   I can vouch for the Planted+ I have that and it grows my plants really well/amazing, down side you'll have algae (but thats what algae cleaners are for ;)) Also I use sand + flourish tabs for rooted plants.
   
   

   Tip:
   

   
   Root plants need flourish tabs (if you just go the sandroute) but if you grab the eco complete you wont really need tabs since thats already fertilizers.
   
   Plants that dont need to be buried in the substrate (anubias plants/java fern) youll need liquid ferts
   
   If you do go for anubias/java fern/java moss - buy driftwood and tie them down with some fishing line (they do best when tied to driftwood)

I do have a co2 system in place. So you would recommend this

http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Ray2-Aquarium-Daylight-30-Inch/dp/B00BDDIPAU/ref=sr_1_1_m?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1462303109&sr=1-1&keywords=finnex+ray+2

over what I have in my original post?