Low tech budget planted tank for newbie.

[johnchor]

Hello bros,

i am newbie and planning to setup a low tech budget planted tank for first time.
need advice and asking alot of questions here. sorry.

1) Current Tank size: 4ft (67gallon)
2) Light: i intend to buy the LED as below
http://www.boyuaquarium.com/en_Artic...ArticleID=1978
my question can this type of submersible LED light be safely used above water?
reason is because i don't want the light to heat up the water temperature as i like to keep some shrimps which prefer not more than 28 degrees.
3) Cover: i plan to use 2 piece of thin clear acrylic with some drilled holes as tank cover. as i keep some killifish and they are expert jumpers. will using this type of cover has bad effects on planted tank?
4) Filter: again i do not want to use any power filter like canisters, OHF, HOB as the motor pump can raised the temperature. can i just use air-pump powered filter like sponge filter or corner filter? what other options?
5) gravel/soil: i like to use black gravel/sand. do i really need soil for low tech plants? do i need to add fertilizers once in a while?
6) drift/bog wood: i like to lower the PH a little to 6.5 -7. do i use driftwood or bog wood?
7) low light/tech plants: java moss, java ferns,Anubias. is Cryptocoryne low light/tech? is Vallisneria nana low light/tech too? any low light/tech floating plants? duckwed?
is cooling fans effective in SG weather?

thanks

[johnchor]

hello bros,

i found a very good free book online for planted tank and just wanted to share
Ecology of the Planted Aquarium A Practical Manual and Scientific Treatise for the Home Aquarist, Second Edition - Diana Walstad
http://www.google.com.sg/url?sa=t&rc...m3v9jI5F7zDRXQ

[johnchor]

Hello bros,

i done some more reading on the internet.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/my...n=Ferns_Mosses

after viewing the URL i came up with some low light\tech plants
Floating - Tropical Hornwort
Background - Vallisneria americana gigantea
Mid-Ground - Windelov java fern and Crypt Beckettii
Foreground - Java Moss

i saw that Crypt Beckettii has a mixed of green and purple!

not sure if you guys keep them before and have good success in low light/tech tank?

please advice. thanks

[cherabin]

You can utilize a lot more variety of crypts beside the beckettii.