No matter what method you chose, you will have better success with less light, shoot for about 1.5-2w/gal of T5 lighting.
So a pair of 24w T-5s would be ideal.
Cost less, uses less electric and will save you headache, lots.......
More light is not better, it's just more work, that is true for any method...........
We add CO2 to increase growth, that in turn means we need to add fertilizers more frequently.
You may add them in the sediment and the water column.
You generally dose 2-3x a week at a min(with CO2) or you can do daily if you so chose, although I've seen little to suggest that it helps vs 3x a week.
If you dose weekly, near the end of the week you start getting down to the bottom of the barrel, plants do better, much like us, being feed several times during the week vs once a week.
If they are in low light non CO2 tanks, that is typically what most advice on bottles of ferts are geared for, then once a week is fine or perhaps none at all.
There is a lot of flexibility, you have fairly well defined your goal, so I'd reduce the lighting as suggested, use the CO2 gas, have some decent surface movement, a Via Aqua Filter is good, say a 750 model, 300gph, 2x24w T5's, ADA aqua soil substrate, add 3x a week: 1/4 teaspoon KNO3, 1/16th KH2PO4, Tropica master grow or Flourish Seachem. Weekly 50% water change, 2-3x a week 50% change for the first 1-2 months. Add some GH booster(may not be needed if your tap has decent Ca and Mg levels), about 1/2 teaspoon or so after each water change.
Use a pH Drop checker and a KH ref solution for CO2 measure.
That ought to get you going well.
You can sub Flourite, Eco Complete, SMS, Sand etc, various trace mixes, close to similar lighting set ups etc, vary the amounts of ferts some etc.
If you do not use the ADA, add a bit more ferts or if you use more lighting.
Pack the tank from day one with lots of CO2 and plants.
Common sense applies.
Regards,
Tom Barr
