JustFishingAround

Ok i'm sure someone on here has asked this but maybe not in the same form as me.

As i stated in another post i'm slowly starting to put together a new tank(30g) and unlike my 20g which was my first tank and has it's share of minor newbie mistakes, i want this tank to be a step up in my leanring process. I plan on having it as a planted tank with little to no fake plants, i'm typically aiming to have a low light setup with maybe medium light if the plant is something i just gotta have. So first thing is what kind of substrate should i use? I will be using normal sized black gravel as the main amount but would like something like laterite, fluorite or something i came across called eco-complete mixed with the main gravel to help my plants grow better. I was leaning towards eco-complete but it seems to be something that is more of the actual main substrate kinda like flourite seems to be and i'm not sure if it can be mixed or not and i have no clue on how much i should buy, considering all of this stuff seems to run into some serious $$$ when you need 20lbs or more.
So can anyone help me out as to what would be a good mix and maybe roughly how much would be needed when mixed with gravel for a 30g tank.

Thanks.

Butterfly

Eco-Complete is an excellent plant substrate. What kind of plants do you like?
Carol

Gozer_1

Flourite is also a great substrate. It's now available in a couple shades, red, standard and black. Black wasn't available when I set up my tank but I would have liked to use it.

JustFishingAround

Well i decided to go with eco-complete and here is a list of plants i'm sorta looking towards, of course it won't be all of them and i'm not even sure about how easy i can get any of them yet, but i prefere low-low medium for l;ight requirements.

Anacharis
Temple plant
Water sprite
Coffee leaf anubias
Java moss, java fern
Horn wort
Crypto wendtii
Crypto walkeri
Crypto spiralis
Pygmy crypt
Green hygro
Lace java fern
Narrow leaf chain sword

I'm looking for a good assortment of front,mid and back type plants and of course there is the whole lighting thing which i know pretty much squat about.
So any feedback on those plants or info would be helpful.

Gozer_1

Sounds like a descent list. That's the same anubias I have. I don't think I'd recommend the Hygro. Hygrophila is a nasty invasive plant illegal to sell in some states. I think the Temple is a hygrophila also but not sure. Not so invasive as the Green Hygro. The Anacharis, Hornwort and Chain Sword MAY need higher lighting, 2.5 to 3 Watts per gallon, not sure though. Check out the plant list at www.plantgeek.net It'll give you a good reference for all the plants you've listed.

JustFishingAround

Thanks a lot for the advice Gozer, and i already know about the greatness of plantgeek it's pretty much how i made the list lol.