thanks for answering my questions, guys! (i did receive some, thanks!) where's my respect? 
ive decided not to try plants yet since i would have to change a lot (new lighting fixtures, get rid of bio-wheel filters and powerheads). i have a couple plants that are surviving w/ my crappy lighting, but i don't expect them to live forever (they may as there are two swords and one java fern), but i just got some different bulbs and a few silk plants for now.
I am, for sure, planning everything out for my new tank to run plants in 1/3 of the tank, so I would still like to know what I am missing as far as the lighting equation.
ive decided not to try plants yet since i would have to change a lot (new lighting fixtures, get rid of bio-wheel filters and powerheads). i have a couple plants that are surviving w/ my crappy lighting, but i don't expect them to live forever (they may as there are two swords and one java fern), but i just got some different bulbs and a few silk plants for now.
I am, for sure, planning everything out for my new tank to run plants in 1/3 of the tank, so I would still like to know what I am missing as far as the lighting equation.
