[BritishBookBug]

Hi:
I have 4 planted tanks. I used a laterite substrate underneath the sand. This provides long-term fertilizer for your plants. I use a few rocks around the base of the plant to keep it from coming out. I also change a little water each week and add liquid fertilizer. My plants grow at a rapid rate. I have water wisteria, echinodorus (a couple of different varieties, java ferns, bacopa, valisnaria, hornwort, pennywort, and a couple that I don't have names for yet. The point is that your plants will do well with sand and fertilizer. They will do even better with the laterite (Flourite) substrate and a grow light. You don't need to use CO2. It is not necessary if you change a little water each week. I bought a couple of good books to get some information. My water is soft and acidic which also helped the plants that I chose. My advice is to read first and choose well.