Nice to see so much enthusiasm in planted tanks... one of the longest thread iv read... thing tat caught my eye was how we are opposite... Iv been on planted tanks for years, and only recently started on goldfish... am also in PJ.

Ur setup sounds all ready to go... i will try to answer some of ur many questions:

1) Easy plants for me are the Amazon sword varieties, ie. big ones for bg n small/pygmy for fg. Some how i never had luck in keeping the so called easy/low lite ones like anubias or java.

2) How much lighting depends on the plants ur keeping. For more lites i suggest PowerCompacts at 40W each. Or the new thin T5 tubes.

3) For algae, i use shrimps only. Yamato r the hardiest.

4) I dont add snails. In fact am trying to rid/control the pests by using pygmy puffers.

5) Dont need waterflow pump for planted tanks. Its true, bubbles and hi-water flow is a nono for plants.

6) How much CO2 depends on ur lighting n plants. More plants more lite more CO2. Achieving balance between these 3 is the secret to a beautiful planted tank.

7) Id say its safe to re-use. I would soak them over-nite at least.

I favor 88 for evrything in general. Sometimes Ikano for plants.

I started planting in '99 with a 2 footer, then moved to a 4', now on a 6'. Also tried marines n kois. But planting always stayed

Happy gardening!

CnT