Help a beginner, please.
I am totally confused about plant substrate and CO2 pumps.
Recently given a former salt water tank and supplies that I'll use as a freshwater aquarium. I would like to use coarse gravel and not purchase the expensive CO2 pump. I know this will work for African cichlids without plants. However I want to plant at least some plants in the gravel/substrate. The rest I'm happy to grow on artifical log and large rocks.
Salespeople talk to me and I see about $300 minimum purchase to get going. Can I do it for less. I'm willing to have fewer, very hardy plants.