want plants for my 37G tank

[Frog]

i have a few questions.first please read my post in the newbie section.Thanks.
I want my new 37Gallon tank to be a planted tank.the Guy at LFS sold me a JKS light hood.it is 23" long and my tank is 30" long.it has a compact flourecent(dual bulb) 55 watts and since i broke the 1st bulb (7100k) i got a replacment with a 10,000K bulb.the wattage works out to 1.4 watts per gallon.Should i buy another hood to increase the light for plants that are medium or high light requirements?.and is it absolutly neccessary that the light hood match the tank length?ok.i hope i am not sounding too stupid.but i just need help.My next question is this: i originally and still have the larger sized Kordon pacific blue wonder gravel.i know flourite is bvetter for plants.and i dont want to have to buy fertilizer all the time.is it possible to put down 2" of flourite and then 1 1/2-2 " of the bigger epoxy coated gravel and still be able to do gravel vacuuming without mixing the 2 gravels?.or should i just go with a combo of flourite,laterite.and maybe onyx.and forget the epoxy coated blue gravel all together?contact me on msn or yahoo messenger if you want.i dont mind.i need help.lol

[TomFromStLouis]

Just to pick off a few of your questions:

Why would he sell you a 23" hood for a 30" tank? Just curious what logic he used. It might work fine.

1.4wpg would be low, borderline medium light. You will need more IF you decide to grow medium/high light plants. 10,000K sounds kind of high to me for the only light. I don't know what effect this might have on your plants, but it would look cold to the eye.

Layered gravel will be hard to keep layered. Uproot a plant or move a rock and things will get mixed up. Blue gravel mixed with Flourite is a look you will have to decide on. I use Flourite mixed with coarse sand and river gravel (all pretty much the same natural color).

[superjohnny]

I would ditch the epoxy covered gravel. When you vacuum it will mix and look really bad.

Onyx sand, Flourite, Red Flourite or some some small river gravel works well. I wouldn't mix Onyx with anything but mulm.

I agree with Tom that buying a 23" light for a 30" tank doesn't make sense. It won't give you full light coverage over your tank. That's like buying a size 5 motorcycle helmet when you wear a size 7. Take it back and get one that fits your tank. ;)

[Frog]

Thanks for your answers.first.I am ditching the blue gravel.I am using flourite,but no sand.i might also mix in some natural colored river gravel and a few natural colored polished stones.
The lighting.uh,... ok i was very ignorant of what is what.I didnt have a good plan.The lfs store guy and I may have had mis communication.Maybe he thought for a smaller tank.And i just didnt know any better.Also I cant take it back.It's mine.(had an accident).I am ok with that.I can still get a proper hood.

The 10,000 compact flourescent looks very good.It made my gourami's color really look better.(Compared to under a eclipse 1 system with dual tubes 6500k.in a ten gallon).I could still go with something less.I suppose it doesnt hurt to have a couple kinds to see how they will look on my tank.I am a bit concerned in summertime about the heat on the glass lid and warming the water though.Its hard in the summer here.I dont have air con and we get 80's,90's and sometimes to 103 here.not much though.I have to cool tanks with fans.I also heard of the frozen water bottle method.i apreciate any further advice.i am learning as best as i can.