ya a modestly priced 2 bulb T5 would grow macro really well in there imo due to the shallow depth and decreased width. tagging along for info on controllers. Only other one I know that is cheap and decent is the neptune systems aquacontroller jr. The problem I saw with the Digital aquatics stuff is if you want to do something extra thats another 70+ bucks for the module. With the neptune ones (atleast the apex....like i need it) it has the vast majority of the stuff built in. However price is more initially....