I do plan on adding plants and they will be real, and ill get some sort of hid in there Ive been trying to figure out which one or if I should make one and where to put it. As far as the water level I could raise it with out any issue so if its a good idea ill do it. One question I do have though is about my hood. I read that I should get a screen hood so I ordered one and now I just read that a normal aquarium hood that I already have is the right thing to have, so whats every ones thoughts on that?