Swords are heavy root feeders. So unless the substrate is rich in nutrients which sand is not I'd advise against them. They will survive for a while but most likely it's just wasted money.
Root tabs would be very useful in this situation, easy solution to having to add ferts.
Maybe try crypts? Don't need extra ferts, they use ammonia very well as a food source, some types even look kind of like some swords. Check out ponterdifolia, and if looking for "grass" or "seaweed" like plants spiralis or balansae.
I keep my fish room at 80. Water temps in the fry tanks range from 76 to 80. No lights on the tanks just indirect light from near by windows for 6-8hrs a day. No substrate at all. Very hard high pH well water that most plants fail in. Anacharis grows very well for me in these conditions.