Intro & Planned Tank Specs

[windinherhair]

Hi everyone! I've been lurking for awhile and thought it was time to be part of things, since I've got some questions. I live in Huntington, Indiana, where the nation's corn is grown . I have fairly hard well water with a ph of 7.4. My lfs's all have hard water also, so locally bought fish should be used to it.

We have a 55 gallon reptile cage that is about to be converted into a freshwater tropical planted tank (almost positive it actually holds water -guess we'll find out). I have it all planned out so please tell me if I can do anything better or more cheaply. Cost is definately an issue here. I'm a stay-at-home-mom with 4 children (they get pretty excited about fish) and will be returning to college in the spring.

55 gallon
2 48''- 40 watt striplights--1.6 wpg
substrate- 20 lbs Eco-complete, 25 lbs natural colored gravel, 5 lbs gravel from old tank
temp- 75f
ph- 7.4

Plants:
java moss tied to slate with hairnet and string (loved that! )
3 anubias
1 banana plant

3 java ferns
maybe a cryp

3 anacharis
2 water wisteria
1 Amazon sword


Fish:
6 longfinned rosy barbs
3 pictus cats
3 swordtails (one male, 2 females)
1 rubber lip pleco
1 common pleco

Decor:
artifical driftwood (already on hand)
2 biggish rocks from old tank

Filtration:
Emperor 280? from old tank
Penguin? (the big one)

So, what do you think? I wasn't sure if I'd have enough light for the sword and the anacharis, but I've seen them here in tanks that are lower light than mine. Will I have enough plants and bio-filtration to prevent algae? Trying to get a head start on the stuff. I don't plan on adding any co2, but may decide to suplement with the liquid form.

Of these plants, I think only the sword is a heavy root feeder. Do I really need the Eco-Complete substrate at all? Maybe I could just use root tabs for the sword and save money by going with regular gravel. I could also just forget about the sword, if it will be a problem.

I plan on doing two 20% water changes a week. I love the plants, but fish are my main focus. I adore them and want them to be as happy and long-lived as possible.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the common pleco when it gets big. It's tiny now (I already have it, or I wouldn't include it). I also already have the 3 pictus cats.

Comments, feedback, and ideas are very welcome. Maybe I could include pictures as it proceeds, if anyone would like to see them.
Thanks!

 

[windinherhair]

I apologize if I posted this in the wrong place . If I did, would one of the mods please move it.
Thanks lots!