Totally Overwhelmed. Not Even Sure If Lighting Is Adequate Now.

[Squeegeatc]

The more research I do, the more lost I get.  I really don't know where to go for plants, what plants to get, if my substrate is good or not, if my lights are even adequate.  Some people love Java Moss, others hate it.  Some love annubis, others hate it.  I know what I want, but I also know that I truly want no tech.  I plan on having a RCS colony in there, and I don't want the CO2 risk. 
 
Specs-----55g, VERY high PH at 8.2, The tank has 2 hoods with 5 mini LED pods under each lid.   And one of the sets went out after I dropped the lid in the tank yesterday, so now only half my tank is lit. Substrate is mostly aquarium rock, with a patch of aquarium sand....not the play sand.  Hardscape is all fake.   A bubbling rotten barrel, a house with bubbling waterwheel and chimney, and a sunken log.  (I'd prefer real stuff, but this is a family tank and my husband loves it)
 
What I want in a tank--I want a grass type plant, like LILAEOPSIS BRASILIENSIS for the RCS and eventual Kuhli loaches to swim through.  I want a tall, stem plant to help hide the unsightly tubes from the bubblers.  And a few mid level plants just because.   I do have an annubis, several stems of water wysteria, a moss ball, and I THINK Staurogyne Repens. 
 
What I do NOT want----CO2  And I'd rather not stress the fish by ripping up the entire substrate.  This is a new tank and isn't fully established.   And we are still struggling with ammonia issues because of poor and impulsive decisions (NOT mine)
 
I can't wait until I am the one helping others, instead of begging for help.   Thanks in advance....
 

 

[Fishmanic]

jungle val is low tech and you can plant it densely---it grows fast and eventually needs trimming
don't count out anubias nana--it's a low plant that  grows slowly but looks great and is low tech---some grassy plants are high tech--co2, lighting etc.

and java ferns are nice too and get about 8 inches tall i believe--slow grower, low tech

 

[DrRob]

OK. It's really very simple. Low tech is fine, we've been keeping plants in low tech for many years with no trouble.
 
The simple way forward is to keep the light relatively low, many of these plants can grow in residual sunlight, but they all prefer some lights to be on. Everything you do with planting tech is driven by light. Put more light energy in and you need to go higher and higher tech to keep up with the energy input. Some plants need this many don't.
 
Your anubius and the java ferns are probably the most reliable for this. Vallis is a great plant for low tech, as are the older stems like water sprite, some of the hygrophilas as well as the crypts. There are plenty of others.
 
What you'll struggle with is dense planting in this sort of set up (although I can barely see the shrimp in my low tech, it's growing out of the top of the tank and the heater and filter are buried in there somewhere), and carpets are incredibly difficult without higher tech set ups.

 

[tunagirll]

Unless you're planning to keep the very sensitive shrimp like bees, CO2 is not a problem. I have CRS and inject CO2 along with copious amounts of fertiliser and they seem to be perfectly fine. However you can add a product like Flourish Excel instead of injection, to provide carbon for your plants.

 

[Squeegeatc]

I like the looks of the Jungle Vallis a LOT.  That would be perfect in the 2 back corners.  Will I need to get a different form of lighting, or is the LED going to work?   And will I need to change my substrate in places if if I do something like the Vals?   At least the ferns and anubis can be tied to things.  The CO2 just seems like too many things can go wrong.  It scares me.   Even going planted scares me!!

 

[Ninjouzata]

I'd be changing the substrate regardless as the khuli loaches would prefer sand.
The plants DrRob suggested are really hardy and low light so I think you'll be fine.

Swords might work too if you put root tabs in. The crypts would also appreciate it.

 

[Squeegeatc]

I have partial sand.    I'm enclosing pictures.   Will this be enough?   I think they will like hiding in the hole under the house, so I've been considering adding more sand over there.  or moving the house.  
 
Glad to know I'm on the right track with the plants.  Should I stick with LED lights, or go to the normal ones?

 

[tunagirll]

Go normal, LED might be too strong Pop plants in, give a little fert and traces, and flourish excel daily You'll be fine!