30 gallon rescape questions

So my other 30 gal, the mossy rootwood one is going great and now it leaves me wanting to redo my 30 gallon stream/minnow tank. The tank currently has 2 medium size marineland power filters running. The substrate is a mix of creek sand, gravel and rocks. The lighting is very low, 15-20 watts from a standard t8. The fish are a mix of dace, a madtom, a tessellated darter and a spotfin shiner.

I am considering adding some live plants if feasible. What is the minimal amount of light I could get away with using to successfully grow and maintain vals and elodea? Will dace eat my elodea?

I want to add some current to the tank with a powerhead and was wondering how much gph would be appropriate. I remember reading here that roughly 10 gph per gallon creates rather heavy current. I'm looking at trying to emulate a run of a small creek. An area where you might find a mix of darters, rosyside and mountain redbelly dace. I plan on running a pipe from the far end of the tank to the powerhead intake to facilitate a more stream like environment. Would something in the 100-200gph range be appropriate?

I thought I'd ask before I buy anything as I have no experience with either of these things and I really don't want to waste my money.

Although all my tanks are planted, I am not good with what amount/type of light should be used for certain purposes - I just kinda wing it. But since you are mostly setting up a 'stream run' tank, I would imagine you are only going to have a small space for plants (in the slower areas). Vals don't seem to require as much light as Elodea and they tolorate current better as well. I think a nice, thick stand of Vals in a flowing tank looks very nice. Dace shouldn't make a meal of your Elodea.

I had the Maxi-Jet 900 (rated for 160 gph) in a 20 gal long. This was good for a happy-medium between fast- and slow-current loving species. I think with your 30 gal, you could most definately bump it up to the 190+ gph powerheads.
With a 190+ gph powerhead rigged with a sponge prefilter, you will be able to remove one of your HOB filters.

Thanks for the reply. I may try the elodea if I can create enough of a current break like I want to. If not, no big deal. I may also try to collect some wild stuff. I know a trout creek near state college that had lots and lots of varieties of different aquatic plants. If they don't work, yank em' out. If they do, good deal.

I saw a retrofit online for a 55watt compact florescent into an old t8 or t12 hood. It comes with a reflector that is supposed to be really good. I'm considering it. Here is the link. http://www.ahsupply.com/36-55w.htm

If I do that one, what is the best color temperature to grow plants well and show off the reds in my redside and rosyside dace? 6700k?