8 Gallon Nano Tank
 

This is my first tank (planted) and i have a few questions,

What are the best plants to use as a beginner?

Should i buy bunched plants or potted?

How many plants do i need to encompass an 8 gallon? (12 inches tall, 12 inches wide, and 9 inches thick)

Please and thank you for yalls help!

Matt

There are many plants that aren't as finicky that can be considered good for beginners but more importantly each has a different lighting requirement. Can you provide more details on your setup?
All of my LFSs sell bunched plants, but I can't really think of any major advantages of bunched over potted or vice-versa.
The number of plants all depends on how dense of a planted feel you want and on the specific plants themselves as they all grow vertically/horizontally to different extents and their growth rates also vary. It also depends if you will have any driftwood or rocks as that will take up space where you can't place plants but will also provide spaces for certain plants to grow on.

Low tech for sure,
I'm also thinking a large main rock or a few bunched together. I am undecided on how dense the plant life will be, it will be one or the other, dense or very light. My tank is the Aqueon Evolve 8 (30 LED's and 4 blue LED's).

Rolltide

Anubias , java fern and mosses all make a low tech tank "pop" and can look just as good as any high tech tank .

+1 on that

Additionally with your lighting you can try some crypts. After 3 weeks they started producing new leaves in my low-tech 5G.

Yes, most crypts do just fine in low tech tanks. And there are plenty to choose from with different looks and versatility (fore, mid and background). Can't go wrong with crypts!!

You can also try Ricca which naturally floats or you can tie it down to a rock or something.

8 Gallon Nano Tank
 

Ooh yeah! I, personally, like riccia. Some people hate it though. If you don't keep an eye on it, it will grow out of control and take over the tank. And it's hard to get rid of too. But, it does look nice.

Evolve 8's are awesome, I have two of them. The one in my daughter's room has cherry shrimp, chili rasboras and otos. Plants are java fern, java moss, dwarf sag, and a nice crypt wendtii. They are thriving on the stock light and pool filter sand with Jobe's plant spikes buried in it. I stuffed the sump with bio media, and cut a piece of plastic needlepoint mesh to cover the skimmer intake and keep my shrimplets out. I just set up the second in my office today. Side note, I'm not sure why they are called Evolve 8 because once set up they barely hold 5gallons of water (I measured that today when I filled it up) and that includes what is in the filter. Have fun they are great little tanks for low tech!

You probably had 3 gallons worth of soil, plants, rock, and driftwood.

The size of the Aqueon should hold around 8 gallons, until you stuff it with substrate, rocks, etc.

An Aqueon 8 = 13 x 13 x 14 inches

You tank is 5.5 gallons.

Curious is right, there isn't near 3 gallons of decor in there.