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First time planted tank owner here, trying to figure out what the heck I’m doing. I’ve had tanks for about 4 years now, African cichlids, saltwater reef, but this is my first attempt at a planted tank. So, I’ve been reading a lot (a LOT) the last couple of months, and this is where I’ve gotten to so far (lousy camera, lousy photographic skills):



Here's a link to a slightly larger picture:
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...3notatedv3.jpg

Plants were put in 1 to 4 days ago. I spray painted the back of the tank with Krylon Fusion satin black. I used the same paint on the XP2 and XP3 intakes and spraybars.

Equipment
75 gallon All-Glass tank
custom made stand (bought from someone else)
XP2 and XP3 for filtration
Pressurized CO2, 10lb tank, Milwaukee regulator, Milwaukee PH controller, Rex Grigg external CO2 reactor
Flourite Black Sand substrate
External Hydor 300 watt inline heater
Red Sea drop checker
4x65 watt PC’s and 1x40 watt NO fluorescent (4 wpg)
Dry fert dosing (macro’s –n- micro’s from Rex Grigg)

Plants
Rotala sp. 'Colorata' (indica ‘red’)
Ludwigia arcuata
HC
Ludwigia Repens
Sunset Hygro
Bacopa Monneri
E. Tennelus
Rotala Rotundifolia
Rotala sp. green
Crypt. Wendtii
Narrow leaf java fern

On order is some Bacopa Carolina, it will go in the empty spot in the back left had side of the tank.

Potential fish list (none in the tank yet)
Cardinals - 18
either rummy-nose or rasbora - 18
silver hatchets - 6
Angels - 4
oto's - 6
Cories - 2

Water parameters as of last night:
PH – 7.4
Ammonia – 0
Nitrite – 0
Nitrate – 20
KH – 4
GH – 107.4

So now to the questions I can think of at the moment:

I’ve had the CO2 running for about 4 days now, and I can’t get PH down past 7.3. Based on my reading of “Chuck’s Calculator”, to get 30 ppm of CO2 I should target 6.6 as the PH based on my KH reading. The drop checker is light green, so I would think the CO2 level is at least ‘OK’. (I’m using the drop checker as the Red Sea instructions say to, using aquarium water with the regeant. I’ve got 4dKH solution on order.) Any ideas on what I’m doing wrong, or should be doing differently?

I put in the E. Tennelus (pygmy chain sword) two days ago, and the leaves are melting. Is this typical of this plant when introduced to a new tank? Should I do something different other than just wait?

I put in the Crypt Wendtii yesterday morning, and some of the leaves are melting. I’ve read that this is typical of Crypts, so should I just wait it out?

When should I start introduction the fish? A week, two weeks? I’m a bit confused about cycling in a planted tank, I’ve read some conflicting information. Some of what I’ve read is that it’s ok to put all the fish in a couple of weeks after getting the plants in the tank. Is that true? Do I wait for a true cycle, testing ammonia and nitrite until they are zero before introduction fish? If I don’t put them all in at once, is their any ‘best’ sequence?

Will cories be ok with my HC, assuming it takes root?

Will shrimp be ok with my fish stocking list? How many would be good for a tank this size, with the fish/plant stocking I’m contemplating?

I’d also appreciate any critiques or suggestions on plant selection, possible fish stocking, and general aquascaping ‘stuff’. I’ve got thick skin, so no need to be gentle!