I've been researching setting up a community planted tank. But have a
feeling I'm getting in over my head. I apologize for the long and rather
convoluted post (hopefully it's clearly written...), I've been reading
posts through google groups, as well as the FAQ at actwin, and some
other sites, so hopefully I'm not saying anything too stupid or annoying...

I recently bought an eclipse system 12 (acrylic) as it seemed
recommended for a beginner, but am having second thoughts. (My neighbor
gave me a betta, so I thought I'd get a kit and throw some fish in with
it. Heh, it's a good thing I did some reading first...although after
reading about plants I'm starting to debate that. I'm feeling
overwhelmed between trying to find a way to incorporate the betta into a
community tank, and then figuring out the plants on top of that. The
betta seems like an intelligent creature, and it seems, to me at least,
most intelligent creatures it must need something to keep them
entertained...a 1.5 gallon bowl just seems too cruel. But I digress...
The tank is still in the box it came in.)

I like how the tanks looks, it's bowfront, clean looking, everything
including the wires seems neatly organized and compact. I chose acrylic
b/c I wouldn't have to worry about leaks (but apparently have to be
concerned about scratches and the tank cracking) It seems like it would
be easy to maintain. But the lighting doesn't seem adequate from what
I've read so far (1 watt per gallon). And I'm wondering about the
filtration being compatible with plants (and the betta).

I've had the misfortune to see some photos of Amano-style tanks online
(they're way too enticing), but I think that would be way too advanced
for me now.

I'm trying to determine how to start out moderately. With low light
plants, no Co2 injection. Keep it low tech and low maintenance as
possible till I get my feet wet and understand better what I'm doing
(whether or not I keep the eclipse in the end).

I've tested the water from my tap the other day (it came out slightly
hard, and 7.4-7.6pH, and there was some ammonia - somewhere between 0
and .5 - the test wasn't any more exact). I don't know if this remains
consistent. I don't know enough yet to know how this will all affect the
plants. I live north of Dallas, and in late summer we have a period of
algae bloom in the tap water (yuck!). I don't know what kind of algae.
Hopefully I can plan ahead and store some water for that period.

The tank is still in the box, so no damage done yet. (I can still quit
while I'm ahead)

I guess my questions are, if I were to go with the eclipse, would the
plants survive pretty healthily or kinda struggle and look all straggly
(or die)? I haven't found info on how many plants to start out with a
10/12 gallon tank. So if plants would work, I don't know how many to get.

So far I've been considering some of the following:
Anubias nana
Java moss
java fern (also I've read it needs at least 2 watts/gallon somewhere)

I've seen suggestions for the following medium light plants that do well
in low light (I'm not sure if this means they suffer, or are healthy,
but grow slowly)
water sprite (I understand it's fast growing and will take up
nutrients, preventing algae, and that I keep cutting it back till the
other plants get established. But will it grow fast enough in low light?
Or is my light too low to worry about algae?)
amazon swords (but need extra fertilization)
aponogeton ulvaceus (sp?)
crypto ciliata (read somewhere that it's the most hardy of crypts, and
not likely to melt with drastic environment changes. Which is likely
because I'm new and will probably do something dumb at some point.)
african bolbitis
crypto balansae

There is some (I think northeasterly - the room never gets hot that I
recall) sun coming into the room, the tank will be along a wall away
from the window, but some sun will reach it.

And I guess if I can maintain plants, I am unsure about the amount of
substrate. The java moss and fern I understand can attach themselves to
driftwood (which I would like to add to my tank) and rocks. So they
probably wouldn't need much substrate. But I'm not sure about how deep
it has to be for the others. I've read 2-3 inches is good for most
plants. (Would that add a lot of weight?) And some seemed to think that
seachem florite, or seachem florite mixed with gravel would suffice, as
the florite provides iron. Hopefully that is correct.

I've heard about retrofit kits, but am concerned about the fire hazard
(saw a photo of a melted eclipse.) I'm wondering if this will work. It
seems that most of the time kits are discussed for the eclipse 1,2,3
hoods. My concern is also if I stop using the hood, finding something
that will work with a bowfront would be hard to find.

OR maybe I should exchange the tank for something else...