www.petsolutions.com sells the Fluval 204 for less than $75. I have used Flourite, its good stuff. But the best planted tank I have now has catlitter for the substrate. Hartz pH 5 catlitter, it lowered my pH from 6.8 to 6.4(great for discus). It is just clay based substrate, like flourite any small grade clay based substrate will make plants want to take off. The catlitter doesnt pack down so the roots really take off. You will need to rinse and rinse and rinse, you will NEVER get the dust completely off. Rinse it until you are sick of rinsing the put it in your tank, and do waterchanges until it clears. But just let it filter/settle out within 24 hours it should clear up. You will need lighting, good lighting if you wish to grow plants. IMO a min of 55 watt. A high output strip would be good. I have never used co2 and never intend to, my plants grow extremely well without it. IMO good lighting, good substrate and weekly fertilizing is all it takes. A few amazon swords and a piece of driftwood would look nice in your tank. Because of the high temps discus need alot of plants just wont take the heat. IME the sword plants fair the best with the temps. Oh yes I agree ditch the UGF it is pointless. I would also invest in a new heater, one that is fully submergible a Visi-Therm 200 would be adequate.