Having been out of the planted tank scene for five years, I'm starting slow, mainly because there is so much that I have forgotten.
Anyway, here's the hardware I have so far.
The Tank
My trusty old ADA Mini-M -- the same tank I used for Source.
Lighting 17W (LED)
Light will fall from an ADA Aquasky 361. When I left the game in 2010, LEDs were barely a thing and all of my tanks ran under compact fluorescent, so I have no idea how plants (and algae!) react to 17W of LED light. It's an uncertainty I can live with as the fixture is so pretty!
CO2
I've got several different CO2 systems laying around: two ADA Advance Systems and a large ten pound CO2 tank. As (Re)Source sits on my kitchen counter and my wife does not have the same affection for CO2-supplimented aquatic plants as I do -- how can you not love pearling, baby? -- I'll keep my marriage in tact an elect for the much smaller Advance CO2 system.
Filtration
In the past I've had great luck with EHEIM 2213s, but I'm considering going all in ADA-wise and getting the Superjet es-150. I dunno, I'll see. It'll all depend on how broke I feel like feeling.
Substrate
Aqua Soil Amazonia. It worked for me in the past and I see no reason to change now. I bought a bag of Colorado Sand, the decorative stuff for the front of the tank, but after thinking about it -- the algae that can form on it, the blowing around during trimmings and cleanings -- I'm probably going to go without it. If you have experience with decorative sand, I'd like to hear your opinions.
Hardscape
Seiryu stone and driftwood used in tanks past. I got them years ago from Aqua Forest Aquarium here in San Francisco.
Plants
I'll be dry starting Lilaeopsis nova mini, 'Mini Microsword,' for the first two months or however long it takes to establish a carpet. (Here is a primer on "dry start" for the uninitiated. I highly recommend the DSM.)
Other plants will include Anubias nana micro, Microsorum pteropus 'Java Ferns.' Bolbitis heudelotii, and some type of moss.
I want this to be a darker tank (color-wise) with slow-growers.
The flow of plants will be from left to right, with left being "upstream" with a denser concentration of plants.
Fauna
Dunno. Fish and shrimp are always an afterthought with me. I don't pick out fauna until after the tank has matured and even then it is not a sure thing that I will be any of either in the tank. I'll probably end up with at least some Cherry and Crystal Reds.
Anyway, this is the start of my seventh journal. I'm looking forward to any comments or suggestions that you may have.
Yours truly,
Ugly