Planning On Doing A Planted Tank Next.

[BriansAquarium]

So I'm very new to the Aquarium Hobby, see my first tank here http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/423565-my-first-aquarium/ , but I really love the natural planted look. This tank and its setup is mainly for the wife who loves bright vibrant colors. I am thinking about doing a 120g Long tank with live plants. Wanted to do a black background with black sand substrate, with white rocks and lots of plants and some wood. Only thing is I don't know where to start, what plants are good to start with. I have been reading but there is so much info to sort through so any suggestions would be great. I don't plan on doing a CO2 injector right off the bat (too high tech for a newbie I think) but maybe sometime in the future. I want it to be pretty, lots of long plants in the back with grass type plants all throughout to give it a grass carpet feel. Anyways I will be buying all parts over time. First on the list is a RO/DI system, I have really hard water with a super high TDS (live in Kentucky where the water has mass amounts of limestone) and would like to get that taken care of first as the fish will be happier without all the phosphates and calcium carbonate. Any and all suggestions are helpful, as I'm still very new to this. Going to make it a semi aggressive tank thinking couple of star Angelfish, Platys (bought these the other day for my wife didn't really like them until after I brought them home, they have a lot of personality), Tetras, Rainbowfish, some more Dwarf Gouramis, some panda or juli corys, and some Rasbora. Thoughts on setup and any info very welcome.

 

[levahe]

If you are planning a planted tank you won't need a RO unit. You will just take out the important stuff that plants need and you will just have to add it back any way. Plants need phosphates and calcium carbonate as well as lots of other things including nitrates (does your water contain nitrates?) So not only would you have to pay for RO unit you would need to pay to put back everything you took out.
In my opinion its best to not mess with the water and to choose and livestock that suit the water you have already. Unless you really have to have some super sensitive species of shrimp or fish.

 

[BriansAquarium]

No nitrates in my tap water. And the R/O unit will be for my 20gallon as well as it is not planted ( I really want crystal clear water with no added chemicals needed). And good to know I wont have to use or mess with R/O water for the planted tank. And no shrimp in this tank as I'll have a couple Angels.

 

[BriansAquarium]

So after doing a lot of research, I'm going to do a 60 gallon planted community tank, Low tech setup, may add CO2 in the future if I need to. I will be buying it piece by piece and it will be a project over time, I will try to make some videos, and take lots of pictures.
 
Planned list of items
Tank - http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3804465&lmdn=Fish+Aquariums+%26amp%3B+Bowls&f=PAD%2FpsNotAvailInUS%2FNo
Lighting - need some help here still don't know lights to get, would like to get good ones so when I get some more light intensive plants I wont have to upgrade
Filter - http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752400&lmdn=Fish+Filtration+%26amp%3B+Circulation&ab=pt_canisterfilters&f=PAD%2FpsNotAvailInUS%2FNo
Heater - http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=16605996&lmdn=Wattage&f=PAD%2FpsNotAvailInUS%2FNo
Substrate - http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753891
Sand - http/www.amazon.com/Petco-Black-Aquarium-Sand-lbs/dp/B005F96PSM/ref=sr_1_13?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1378258872&sr=1-13&keywords=aquarium+gravel
Plants - Java Moss, Anubias, Java Fern, Amazon Swords, and dwarf baby tears (hemianthus callitrichoides).
Wood - Red Moor Wood
Fish - Haven't fully decided yet, Definitely want a Pair of angles though, will work around those. (any suggestions welcome, wont colors to contrast all the green and black!)
Rocks - Lava Rock (good and porous for moss growth.)
CO2 - None at the start, will upgrade if needed.
 
Let me know what you guys think, and I am all about constructive criticism. One question, should I add a few fish right away? I've seen some people say yes and some say wait 4-7 days first. Thanks!

 

[BriansAquarium]

 
This is going to be my general layout, sorry no skill with paint hope you get the general idea. 2/3 tank planted with dwarf baby tears making a carpet effect with anubias and java fern in the foreground of the Red Moor wood with swords in the back ground to give it some height. Going to black sand all of the tank, with 1/3 the tank with no plants as an open viewing area, may put a piece of red moorwood with moss just for looks but that will be way into the future.
 
the tank will be separated by lava rock, so kinda like going from the jungle of a Hawaiian island to the black beach, that is the effect I'm going for. Thoughts? Should be buying tank, stand, lighting, heater, and pump this weekend (hopefully). Going to give it a black background with acrylic paint. Going to see if I can get some wood to start soaking it, want it to be about 20" high and 36" long so it is as tall as the tank and takes 2/3 the length.