Best light 18" deep tank (budget $150)

Get a smaller tank.

+1 for jrman83
But really the Finnex Ray II gives you that amount of light for abot $105.00 but you would be much better off buying a 30L tank to go/w it as that size is good for the 30L tank. That tank is 16" tall and after substrate you would have about 13.5" to the bottom.
This would give you enough for carpet plants as long as you get injected CO2 to go/w it.
Look in the low tech section to see how they do carpet plants/with what light.

What about: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+10704+28127&pcatid=28127

Or Finnex Planted?

Actually I've been looking around and I'm going to spring for a BuildMyLED fixture. But I'm about to tear my hair out deciding between a 10000k and the 6300k

Why? I own 2-10000k and 1-7000k of the BML. Get the 10000k. You won't be disappointed.

What size tank is this exactly and what type of carpet plants are you wanting to grow? You can't really put a blanket statement out there telling him to get a small tank that's kind of jerky in my opinion.

You also don't have to spend a ton of money on lighting if you look around. I grew both hydrocotyle sp Japan and S. repens in a 40 breeder using a single $60 BeamsWork fixture just fine and you could consider those carpeting plants... I recently upgraded to two new 36" fixtures that use .5w LEDs and got them both shipped for just over $100.

jrman83 said:

Why? I own 2-10000k and 1-7000k of the BML. Get the 10000k. You won't be disappointed.

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I'm just gonna close my eyes and take your word for it! Thanks!

I'm definitely going to grow hair grass. Love it. And maybe some dwarf baby tears. I don't know what else yet. I'm not sure the design I want just yet so I'm not sure on which plant species I want

NavemadaMan said:

I'm definitely going to grow hair grass. Love it. And maybe some dwarf baby tears. I don't know what else yet. I'm not sure the design I want just yet so I'm not sure on which plant species I want

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IF you go w/ the 10000K BML I'd suggest the XB series.. and the manual dimmer is a good option..

The 10000K Planted XB Series delivers 37% more light than our original 10000K Planted.

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jeffkrol said:

IF you go w/ the 10000K BML I'd suggest the XB series.. and the manual dimmer is a good option..

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Why do you suggest the XB?? Aren't the lights alreay crazy powerful? Most people I've read aren't even running 100% on the standard.

You are right in my case. I did not get the XB and only run mine at about 85% or so. If your light is going to sit directly on the tank XB is a little overkill, IMO. I own 3 of these things and none are at 100%, non XB.