Plants In Tank

[F.mayne]

I'm starting a new tank but not new to the hobby. I want to do live plant's in it. The tank is 36 wide 15 deep 20tall it's a uniquarium. I have so many questions from what kind of substrate to use to what plants as a beginner.

 

[Munroco]

Welcome to the forum. I think a lot depends on the lighting you have as to which plants will do well in your set-up. I'm no expert but some plants flourish in low light conditions while others need more. I personally like a layer of compost under the substrata but thats just me. Others will use co2 infusion or fertilisers or both. There are quite a few different options.

 

[Byron]

Agree.  The first question to ask yourself is, what sort of planted tank are you after?  For example, there is a vast difference between an aquarium for fish that has live plants, to an aquarium intended as a planted aquatic garden that may have few or no fish.  And in between are many options.  I will make the assumption you are closer to the former (a fish tank with plants) and offer a few suggestions.
 
First, for substrate, decide on the fish as some of these have preferences.  Plants will grow in most any substrate, and I have found the best to be play sand or fine gravel (depending upon fish).  Pea gravel works with stream or river habitats but many substrate fish like corys or substrate feeders like most cichlids will be better with sand.
 
Lighting as Neil said is probably the major factor.  Low to moderate lighting will be simplest, as diffused CO2 and increased fertilization will not be necessary.  But if you have high lighting, the latter may be mandatory to balance.
 
Illustrations may help here, so here are a couple of my present planted tanks, all using low or moderate light, no CO2, and play sand or fine gravel substrates.
 
Byron.

 

[jag51186]

Hey Byron...what's the floating plant with the roots hanging down in the middle picture??

 

[Byron]

Hey Byron...what's the floating plant with the roots hanging down in the middle picture??

 
Assuming you mean in the 70g [holding your cursor over the photo displays the name and it starts with 70g then the date] that is Frogbit.  There are three species, one is tropical, but two are temperate.  I got one of the latter (it was labelled Amazon Frogbit, but when it flowered it was obviously not but a temperate species) so it comes and goes, so to speak.