want to try a planted tank, but not sure if a beginner should

First off, welcome to the forum. Planted tanks are nothing to be afraid of. In fact, they are perfect for the beginner because offer a further level of filtration, oxygenation, and and great looks to the tank. Furthermore, fish love them. They can absolutely tell the difference between live and plastic plants.

A 55g is a good starting size. For beginners, the bigger the better. Its much harder to mess up a large tank than a small one. As for where to buy equipment, the internet is your very best (and cheapest) option. For a 55g, I would personally run 2x250gph (or 2x300gph, optimally) canisters of your favorite brand (Eheim, Rena, Aquatop, etc). This will give you ample filtration and allow you to filter both sides of the tank simultaneously. Big pieces, such as filters, lights, etc, are way overpriced in local chains, however, places like Petco, Petsmart, etc, do often carry supplies, accessories and livestock at decent prices.

Lighting is a very big issue, and not something we can help you with until you tell us what type of setup you are looking to get into. What I mean is, lo-tech with easy, low light, slow growing plants, or high tech with co2 injection, fertilizers, quicker growing, and possibly more difficult plants. On that same note, a moss tree is definitely an advanced aquascaping technique.

Another important choice is substrate. What you use can range from regular dirt to expensive, top of the line synthetic dirt such as ADA AquaSoil.

Finally, stocking should be the furthest thing from your mind, currently. A properly and fully stocked planted tank should be set up, and then fish should be added. This is the number one best way to ensure initial and long term survival of your livestock.

Planted tanks can actually be as simple, or as complex, as you want to make them. Your stocking plan is a pretty easy one--nothing there to rip up plants or need conditions that might make certain plants difficult. Your next step is to figure out how much time you want to spend maintaining a tank.

I love, love, love the amazing high light requirement plants that are featured in so many of the really awesome tanks out there--but I don't run them in my tanks. High light means fast growth and constant work pruning and balancing fertilizers and lights and needing c02. Cool stuff, and totally do-able, but not my thing. I like being able to step back and pretty much let things run on automatic for weeks or even months at a time (other than feeding and a bit of cleaning here and there).

For example: my primary tank is a 37g(tall). I've got fluorite and gravel for substrate, an all-in-one package deal LED lightbar with integrated timer, and two canister filters only because it was easier to add a second when I upgraded tank size than break everything down (my original canister is in-line with a combo chiller/heater) and set it back up on a single larger filter. Before I upped my lights to medium level, I used Seachem Flourish 3x week and threw in root tabs a couple times a year. Now I use a different all-in-one fertilizer 3x week and throw in root tabs a couple extra times a year.

First of all, THANK YOU for all the feedback. I am still processing it all. I am liking the low tech / low maintenance suggestions.

since i am starting with a clean slate, here is what I am thinking for my layout.

on the left side, 6-8" wide, a dense combination of plants preferable with some red and at varying heights. I also plan to have driftwood sticking out (this side should look wild, untamed and harsh) I am also considering a bubble bar running from front to back along the line b/n this harsh area and the river

Then will be the river, blue pebbles or something simple.

Next is the straight and narrow path. maybe some flat river rock. (is it possible to make my own pavers out of clay or something?)

On the right, this will be the largest section, I want green grass with the tree...that's it. This side should look very neat and clean and peaceful. I want the tree to be the focal point, so a short plain grass is all I want for now. as for the tree, I don't know what I want but I realize this will be the hardest part. I have seen some bonzai looking trees and liked those, I also have wondered if there was something that would resemble a willow tree. What can you use for the tree trunk? does it have to be drift wood? can I use wood dowels or plastic to shape the trunk and branches?

I have attached my layout drawing to help visualize this. I also found a tank by neoshrimp that is very similar to what I have in mind http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=149896

Please let me know what you would suggest for plants. that would be low tech but still fit my vision.

Thanks in advance.