Nice write up josh! A few notes though, yes, the one plant is selaginella Kraussiana "gold tip", the other, unfortunately, is not a pilea. It has the wrong stem/leaf structure. I wi figure out the plant later.

The t5ho lighting that Home Depot sells isn't really an option for most people. They are commercial fixtures without reflectors or wiring. You have to wire them yourself and build reflectors for them as well. That, coupled with the fact that the depot doesn't sell t5ho bulbs in the correct color temp. Best bet is aquatraders for them as well. I have about 6 of their t5ho fixtures and they are wonderful


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela