Your thread inspired me to do my own low tech 10g. I have longfin white clouds in there with some cherry shrimp. I put some stiff wire mesh on top and cut out holes to insert my houseplants I got on sale. I use a simple sponge filter.
Things are growing well in the light it gets from a north facing window and the light from my desk lamp.
I used pothos, begonia, anthurium (see the flower?), dumb cane (beware of the sap, my skin reacted badly to it), two Dracenas, purple waffle plant that lost its purpleness, and pilea.