Help w/ 1st planted setup

[Fender1958]

Set up: 5 Neons, 4 Red Minors, 4 corys, 2 balas, 1 stubborn old goldfish, haha 55 gal Gravel Fluval 405 with sponges, carbon, biomax, biomax, biostars Aqueon T5 with 6500k and color max I'm looking to add 4-5 low to mid plants and have heard that carbon/mechanical media is bad for plants. Also starting to see people here say that carbon isn't really needed. Any suggestions for media and layout in the canister to help with the health of my first planted would be greatly appreciated.

 

[yee.simon]

Hi
How about using zeolites just to.polish the water and clean out all the unwanted chemical and a little of phoszorb (prevent algae build up).
Thank you