Starting a planted tank

Good morning 3reef,

I have a 36 gallon Bowfront that i bought my wife and is freshwater. she like to raise guppy's in it but we have some neons, cherry barbs and glow fish in there along with a ton of guppy's. My wife and i were at my LFS buying some new corals and she has fallen in love with the look of a planted tank. It looks easy but there are a few things i don't know. maybe some more experienced people can help me with this.

1. I have heard you should not have aeration in a planted tank.
2. I have gravel in there now but do i need to get the gravel with soil mixed in.
3. What supports the plants. (I hear of co2 tanks)
4. What kind of lighting is needed. I was thinking of adding a customer T5. What kind of bulb?
5. How often do you do water changes?
6. Is there any special kind of filtration. I currently use a HOB filter with charcoal cartridges.

Thanks for everyones help.

 

Try this forum www.plantedtank.net It is a forum just like this one. I am also researching it to change over one of my 75g tanks.

 

I've also been reading up on planted tanks, I'd like to start one of my own. There's another good website to get you started...
DFW Aquatic Plant Club Articles-- Beginner Basics: Introduction
hope this helps!