What do I need to start a planted tank?

[Watsonja4]

As the title states I need help with my shopping list. After doing some research and asking a few questions on here I have decided to go with a Fluval spec v and a hydor 25w heater . My goal with this tank is for it to be low-tech planted with a betta and possibly some shrimp if the betta turns out to be friendly. So that being said I need help with choosing substrate, what do you recommend? I would like to have a small piece of betta safe driftwood with a few small river rocks as a hardscape, what type of driftwood would be good and where can I order it from? Sorry for so many questions and any help will be appreciated.

 

[TMaier]

I got one adult shrimp and several fry. My betta enjoyed the fry. Very tasty. Only one left is the adult.


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[Alan79]

In a low tech tank I've had success without using any of the fancy substrate brands. I like to use black natural looking pebbles. Smaller grains help hold plants in place. Sand also works. I chose black stone substrate because it contrasts nicely with the plants. Depending on what plants you grow you may need to supplement root tabs.

I have used Goldvine driftwood with Betta. I would just buy driftwood that has no really sharp bits to hook a betta by their fins. I like to soak driftwood for a couple of weeks before adding it to a tank as well.