ideas

I agree with MM and GG.
you can have a wellplanted low maint tank. you do not need a ton of light for some plants. however, if you want live plants with more than green , you neeed to consider light issues,CO2 etc.

there are many choices..I actually have a 29 with only a 20 watt light..but this tank gets filtered sunlight. so far everything I put in there grows.
ludwiga, crypts,cabomba,elodea,anubias corkscrw val and other plants.

this tank is fairly low maint. I do have to cut back stem plants everyweek I also started trying some ferts and a diy CO2 to see if it makes any difference.

thre are many choices for colorful fish dwarf gourami as suggested is definatley colorful..add some tetras and mayb a bottom dweller.
 
AquariaCentral.com