I think you would be happier if you skipped the walstead. Dirt with a sand cap can be a big mess of you disturb it to move a plant or something.
go low tech with an inert substrate (like eco-complete), canister filter with inline heater, lights on the lower end (to avoid algae - look at Finnex Fugeray or planted+)
might want to skip the carpet idea, go with lots of crypts, anubias, java, temple plants (there is a small version) - pack them in.
with a setup like that you would have a nice display, water changes and minor cleaning every 2 weeks to a month with no issues, canister cleanout every 3 months or so. nothing to do daily except feed and maybe fish out a floating dead leaf or 3.
I use a sponge pre-filter on my canister, keeps the leaves and stuff from clogging the intake.
see the 36 gallon in my signature - that's the general idea. I have moved up to adding ferts and just recieved the stuff to add Co2 - but all of the pics on there right now are very much like I describe above.
go low tech with an inert substrate (like eco-complete), canister filter with inline heater, lights on the lower end (to avoid algae - look at Finnex Fugeray or planted+)
might want to skip the carpet idea, go with lots of crypts, anubias, java, temple plants (there is a small version) - pack them in.
with a setup like that you would have a nice display, water changes and minor cleaning every 2 weeks to a month with no issues, canister cleanout every 3 months or so. nothing to do daily except feed and maybe fish out a floating dead leaf or 3.
I use a sponge pre-filter on my canister, keeps the leaves and stuff from clogging the intake.
see the 36 gallon in my signature - that's the general idea. I have moved up to adding ferts and just recieved the stuff to add Co2 - but all of the pics on there right now are very much like I describe above.