20 gal fresh, Restart

[Doomhed]

I have a really nice 20 gallon tank I want to restart. my setup-

Oversized oak/pine stand and top (Looks HAWT)
15-18LBS White Quartz gravel, already filtered and cleaned, fine grain.
Full Undergravel filter setup
60 Gallon dual output airpump with vent control filter (to slow the water), by aquatech.

I am going to first do a fishless cycle and then install some live plants. The honest truth is, I have never had much luck with live plants, and the location I will be using wont have any direct sunlight at all. I have mulitple florescent lamps and lights I could use. I was thinking of using some dwarf lilies, because those usually survive a few months before I kill them, but I dunno what else.

any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jayrod7]

with your underground filter you are going to have a hard time growing plants. when you put the subrate down the underground filter will suck all the nutrience needed out of the subrate. You will need to buy some subrate along with the gravel or your plants will not grow.

 

[Limi310]

Plant roots can also grow underneath the UGF and create 'clogs' areas where the water isn't free flowing which leads to anerobic zones.....not good.
UGF's generally aren't a good idea w/ plants.....and IMO not a good idea period.

 

[matt201985]

UGF, deff not a good idea to use , use a power filter that goes in back of the tank.