Suitable equipment for a planted community tank

[Jazz]

Hi guys, I've just gained a 3 foot tank, that comes with a dual tube light, its currently holding a life-glo and an aqua-glo. The tubes are over a year old so I will change them.

Tank is not yet setup, but will be heavily planted, I intend to cover the rear wall in moss, probably christmas moss as it seems to be slow growing and more controllable than Java moss.

Shall i replace the tubes with the same setup, or are their better options? Do I need to pay petstore prices or are these available elsewhere?

Also the tank came with a UV kit, a 5w pondmaster that currently has a busted bulb. Are these useful in an aquarium? I always thought these were a pond thing. Is it worth replacing the bulb and setting it up?

[Feelers]

I'd definately use a UV on a planted tank - if I had it lying around. But I would geuss replacing the bulb might cost a bit.

It can help with algae problems, which happen to a lot of planted tanks I believe.

It does has a certain coolness factor

[suphew]

As long as you add the nutrients to the substrate instead of trying to add fertilizer to the water algae shouldn'e be a problem in a planted tank, infact will be less of a problem than in a lightly planted tank.

The key is have your light/CO2/nutrients in balance after that the hardest thing is pulling out all the plants each week.

[Jazz]

Coolnes factor eh? You mean I've found another hobby after cars and PCs that lets me add lights and bling?