Decided I needed to put some money into buying a decent light system if I want to keep my plants alive. Going to convert my 40 Breeder into a planted tank. I figured the deeper the tank, the better I can aquascap with driftwood and rocks. I need help setting this up...since I'm a cichlid guy, I know about planted tanks.

Lighting: High Output T5's vs. Power Compacts? Any thoughts?

I know I need the 6700 and not the 10K/Actinic Lighting... but that's where my scope of knowledge ends.

From the looks of it, I need to boil some potting soil and place a layer of sand on top... then use tabs for fertilizer.

Filtration wise I'll probably use 2 AC50's set with one on the L and one on the R.

So lets hear it...Planted Guru's where ya'll at?...

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13733&pcatid=13733

Is $209 a decent price for this thing? Anyone have any economical alternatives to getting good lighting for any cheaper?

I use regular plant/ aquarium bulbs from home dept. If you can get it near a window you wont need as much for lighting. Getting a jug of flourish excel will help, use it when you think of it. potting soil should be 1/4-1" deep, and the sand close to double the thickness of the dirt.
Never get duplicates of plants get several different kinds, you will find a few that you just cant grow. When you find those don't replace them with the same kind move to something different.
When planting just be random about it, it gives you the most natural look. The only thing you need to watch when your planting is put short stuff by the filter intake and keep the tall stuff a little bit away.
You will need to poke around in your sand 2x every week to start with. One thing about using the dirt is it creates some gasses that need to be knocked up and out, some use chop sticks I use my fingers. You will have to get the hang of it to see how often you will need to poke it.
Don't vacuum unless it gets really yucky then just on the surface, the plants use all the debris for its nutrients.
Plants will pop up from time to time till they get well rooted, if you plan on having corys in there... they will let you know where they want their plants, if the pop up just plant them somewhere else till you and the corys come to an agreement on where it all should go.
Wood is a nice addition to a planted tank, most any hardwood will work. Just be sure its very very dead and boil it for a few days to water log it and get some of the tannins out. There are quite a few plants that like to grow on driftwood.

Did I miss anything?

oh, get a box of laterite and mix it in with the dirt, it helps.

ferns way is the way to go. nice and easy and it works.

i would go with aquariumplants.com substrate or turface pro for substrate.
one t-5 bulb HO would be plenty of light for low and medium lights plants.
2 bulbs and you will need co2 and fert regimine.
i have a 40 breeder also and
i bought this lamp and it has a 5 yr warranty on the ballast.
you can call them and they will custom make you a lamp or 2 seperate cords for the one im talking about.
http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/product_info.php?cPath=71_136&products_id=1416

i dont like 65k bulb,.there too yellow/green. im using them now but will get only 10k next time

and some root tabs and your good to go.
also i use hydor koralia nano or koralia1 for additonal flow instead of more filtration.

Alan's method is great as well, depends on how much you want to spend and how hands on you want to be, mine is cheaper but a little more effort in start up, Alan's is a little more expensive and less effort in start up.
I would only use one of the ac50's in the middle on the back. With a decent amount of plants you don't need much filtration and water changes are fewer as well. Plus most stem plants don't like a lot of flow, vals and stuff work well near the filter flow.
Oh and top soil is best to use, you wont have to worry about the Styrofoam balls or manure being in it.

Just remember; planed tanks are pretty easy!

i say add both filters, not only for better water quality, but poor water circulation can lead to some algae problems. look up the brand Odyssea for t5ho fixture at a economical price. I would start off with a low light setup with some easy growing plants though. Coralife makes some regular t5 fixtures. i think it would work great for a low light setup and i don't think the 36" fixture cost much. Like Fern mentioned flourish excel is a good product.

How about this on a Planted 30L?

http://www.bigalsonline.com/edealinv/servlet/ExecMacro?nurl=control/StoreItem.vm&siId=1379085&catParentID=57011&scId=57011&ctl_nbr=3684&utm_source=Froogle&utm_campaign=FroogleUSA+Datafeed&utm_medium=Comparison+Shopping&CAWELAID=388698127

Is it okay to paint the back and sides of a planted tank or does it matter?

I'm debating the 40Breeder vs 30L... lol.

My planted 75g has only a AC 70 filter and a small sponge, not a spot of algae on the glass and I don't have any algae eaters in there either and it gets a lot of direct sun. If its a true planted tank (50% or more) then you can do the lower filtration.

I personally think that's a bit overkill... but that's me.
Its easier to see the plants if you don't paint the tank........

hmn... I ask because my 30L is painted black on all sides. Maybe I'll just keep it as a growout. Less work if I just make the 40 Breeder a Planted tank.

It's not near a window, so I might just have to get the Catalina Light fixture. $125

Could I have one 10K and one 6700 bulb? or both 6700...or both 10K. I know actinics are useless in a F/W set up.

I have always used the phillips plant bulbs from home depot with success... even not being close to a window, they are cheap and if you decide you need more light you just hang a 2nd fixture.
I ain't never done used none of that there fancy stuff yall talkin bout

LOL Fern. I'll try the cheaper route first... we shall see.. I'll keep ya'll posted. Thanks for all the input guys.