Terrestrial ferts for a planted tank and other questions. Plants only.

So I'm about to move into a shop and wanted to set up my 65g since it will have electricity. Figured it would give me something to look at while I'm working. I won't be using this shop very often, so the tank will be somewhat neglected, infrequent water changes etc. Basically everything you don't want to do with a fish tank probably.
I don't want to spend a ton of money on upkeep so I was curious about anybody that's used terrestrial ferts and your experience.
My main goal is to grow good looking plants that I can sell locally, economically.
I have some sodium bulbs from my youth that i was going to use as lighting.
My main concern is algae on the plants and the best way to combat that in a nutrient rich environment. My thoughts here are regularly dosing H2O2, 3ppm, 3 times a week. Don't need a cycle so it works in theory.
Another concern is insects. Mainly mosquitoes... venus fly traps?? Only other thing I can think of would be a betta, other non fish options would be great.
Lastly, plant options. This will be a dirted tank with no cap, so essentially a blackwater tank. I'm figuring amazon swords and lillies. I also have some cardinalis that I'm planning on adding. Other "medium propagating" plant ideas that are popular? Fairly hardy and no crypts. Thanks.

 

African butterfly fish (I think they remain 3-4 inches) and hatchetfish, both dwell at the top and will go for insects, but make sure they don't jump out of the tank.

 

Some folks fill capsules with Osmacote (sp?) Just recently I decided to try Jobe's houseplant spikes. They have been in my tanks for a couple of months. So far I am seeing some good growth. I've not seen any negative issues. I am not sure yet how often I will need to add them but even if it is every couple of months they are very inexpensive. Much less expensive than root tabs designed for our tanks.

I did notice my nitrates shoot up after adding them but took care of that with a water change. The nitrate spike shouldn't be a problem in a plant only tank.

 

How often have you been putting them in, do you use them like root tabs? If so how far apart do you space them, this is interesting, I don't have enough money for ferts and root tabs, and I saw at lowes, 50 for 2 bucks. That is insane.

 

African butterfly fish (I think they remain 3-4 inches) and hatchetfish, both dwell at the top and will go for insects, but make sure they don't jump out of the tank.

Unfortunately this will be an open top tank. Also both species are a bit higher mantinence amd I'm looking for the lowest maintenance possible.

 

How often have you been putting them in, do you use them like root tabs? If so how far apart do you space them, this is interesting, I don't have enough money for ferts and root tabs, and I saw at lowes, 50 for 2 bucks. That is insane.

the jobes spikes are tried and tested, totally legit to use as root tabs. they dont sell osmocote here but they sells jobes so I'll be using them next time i need root tabs. right now I am not using anything though

 

How often have you been putting them in, do you use them like root tabs? If so how far apart do you space them, this is interesting, I don't have enough money for ferts and root tabs, and I saw at lowes, 50 for 2 bucks. That is insane.

Since I just started using them I have only added them one time. That was a couple of months ago. I broke them in half for my 5.5 gallon tank and put one half under the biggest sword in there. I put the other half under the vals on the other side of the tank.

I put 4 of them in my 55 gallon tank. I just spaced them out across the tank but made sure one went under the sword and one in the middle of my big group of crypts. The crypts are growing like weeds. I will soon have to start removing some of them. I also noticed my java ferns put on a growth spirt after I added the spikes.

 

Unfortunately this will be an open top tank. Also both species are a bit higher mantinence amd I'm looking for the lowest maintenance possible.

Mosquito fish! Used for mosquito control, will also eat algae, and practically bulletproof. I keep them in my plant ponds outside and never feed them and they thrive and reproduce off of mosquitoes, algae, and other insects. Since I got my original population from the local pond whenever there are too many for me I just throw some back where I got the original population from, but if you don’t want them reproducing they also do great in groups of all males or females like guppies.

 

My swords exploded in growth when I switched to osmocote tabs.

 

Alright, so osmocote tabs sound like a good idea. Mosquito fish sound like a better idea than a betta too for sure. Appreciate the insight guys!