The thing your going to discover when setting up a planted tank verses a SW reef is that while the goals are the same, that is maintaining a healthy environment for what you want to keep, the approaches used are completely different. It's a whole different ballpark, so to speak.
For example, canister filters on a reef are usually considered to be a big disadvantage. This is because they consume oxygen, and create nitrates. On a planted tank that's exactly what you want. The overflow and sump typically used on a reef give excellent gas exchange, CO2 out, O2 in. It's just what you want for a reef, but in a planted tank, you want that CO2. The plants heed it for growth.
Another example, nitrates and phosphates in a reef are things you want to keep as low as possible. In a planted tank you usually want to add these because they are necessary fertilizers.
Lighting is another area that is different. While you still need good light for a planted tank, you need much less of it, and typically of a much lower color temp. You could use about 2 bulbs in your 6 bulb fixture and still get plenty of light for almost all plants.
You also don't need the water flow generally associated with reef systems.
The one item I would consider is a pressurized CO2 system for a planted tank. It's comparatively expensive, and a little bit of work to set up, but it does wonders for plant growth. It will also allow you to maintain a CO2 level even with an overflow and sump.
The bottom line is that you can use everything you currently have, but you'll want to make some changes. I would also suggest getting a couple of good books on planted tanks and read them for background information. Here are two I like -
Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants by Peter Hiscok
Ecology of the Planted Aquarium by Diana Walstad
For example, canister filters on a reef are usually considered to be a big disadvantage. This is because they consume oxygen, and create nitrates. On a planted tank that's exactly what you want. The overflow and sump typically used on a reef give excellent gas exchange, CO2 out, O2 in. It's just what you want for a reef, but in a planted tank, you want that CO2. The plants heed it for growth.
Another example, nitrates and phosphates in a reef are things you want to keep as low as possible. In a planted tank you usually want to add these because they are necessary fertilizers.
Lighting is another area that is different. While you still need good light for a planted tank, you need much less of it, and typically of a much lower color temp. You could use about 2 bulbs in your 6 bulb fixture and still get plenty of light for almost all plants.
You also don't need the water flow generally associated with reef systems.
The one item I would consider is a pressurized CO2 system for a planted tank. It's comparatively expensive, and a little bit of work to set up, but it does wonders for plant growth. It will also allow you to maintain a CO2 level even with an overflow and sump.
The bottom line is that you can use everything you currently have, but you'll want to make some changes. I would also suggest getting a couple of good books on planted tanks and read them for background information. Here are two I like -
Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants by Peter Hiscok
Ecology of the Planted Aquarium by Diana Walstad
