I'll try to keep this as short as possible (not one of my stronger attributes!) - but it will need a bit of explaining I'm afraid...

In a nutshell I've been planning a sump system for my 75 gal. which will (hopefully) include a 10 gal. plant refugium.  For details see the "Update:  Doing my homework" thread in the General Aquarium forum.  I've never kept aquatic plants before though, so I've been doing a bit of reading here on the forum (thanks!) and abroad.  I believe I've gathered enough information on the subject that I can feel confident about starting a "beginners" plant tank.  Just a few issues that I couldn't find solid info on though...

1)  The main thing is the overall water-movement concept.  It's a bit of a catch 22 filtering for both plants and fish!  Obviously water surface agitation will be abundant within the overall system.  Good for fish - bad for plants!  Is this going to be detrimental to the plants (I intend to stick with very hardy varieties - ie "Proven Performers" list)?  Or is it simply considered "less-than-optimal"?  Can the bioload offset the effects of this?  

2)  Again with the catch 22 (or perhaps a conflict in philosophy concerning the planted tank versus the plantless tank).  After reading up on the subject of using plants as (or with) filtration for the aquarium I've seen a lot of info indicating that the bacteria which grows in the mechanical filter media competes with the plants for the substances which the plants need to survive.  That in mind...  What sorts of things do most of you use for fine-particle filtration to keep your water crystal clear?  And how should I determine how much filter media to use for a system of my size with the amount of plants that I will have?  

Okay.  Last one - I promise...

3)  My original plan was to run the plant refugium without fish.  I intended to sweep water trough the plant refugium to a second refugium which would contain various scavengers to break down loose plant matter and other solid waste.  But I'm wondering, now, if the plants (and the overall system) would benefit more from the solid waste produced by a direct bioload.  Should I nix the second refugium?  Or would there be some benefit to using both refugiums - each with their own unique bioload (the second refugium could include plant-eating critters that would be better at breaking down larger bits of loose plant matter)?  An article entitled "FUNCTIONAL FISH FOR A SMALL, LOW-LIGHT AQUARIUM" is what got me thinking in this direction.  

Any comments, suggestions, theories, or general rants would be greatly appreciated.  Sorry to have gone on so long.  Just my nature I guess!  Thanx so much!

I don't think you need to have a refugium to have a successful planted freshwater tank.  My 52g has 2 aquaclear filters running (packed full with filter media, but no charcoal), a good substrate and 2 watts per gallon of fluorescent light and all the plants grow like crazy.  

The lighting and substrate are the important things.  Lots of plants grow naturally in moving water so personally I would skip all the fancy stuff (refugiums, sumps), spend money on a good compact fluorescent hood, buy a bag of Schultz Aquatic soil, buy some hardy plants from the proven performer's list, some root tabs for the root feeders and off you go!  

You can add a CO2 system later if your tank needs it, but my plants do great without it.  

Thanx for the reply Anoif!  I really didn't take time to explain myself in the above post.  Otherwise it would have been really long!

[quote=Anoif]I don't think you need to have a refugium to have a successful planted freshwater tank.[/quote]
I was certainly not under that impression.  What it comes down to is more of an experiment in balancing the bio system naturally - and an excuse to try something new.  The fact is that (aesthetically) I don't much care to have plants in my main tank.  I prefer an aquascape based more on rock and driftwood formations.  Besides - it is likely that whatever I finally decide to put in the tank will simply tear the plants up anyway.  So unless it is for the sake of the fish, I'd rather have the plants in a side tank - and mostly for functionality, not looks.  

As far as the sump system goes...  Again - an excuse to experiment with something new!  I gave my old HOB power filters away about a year ago, while my tank wasn't being used, to a friend who needed them desperately for his brackish tank.  So I figured I'd be better off, this time around, investing in something that can teach me more about the hobby - rather than just replacing what I had before.  

Again...  Thank you for the reply.  I honestly didn't think that anyone would take the challenge!  I've been speaking with someone else about these issues, and will post the results for everyones benefit as soon as I get everything worked out.  Of course if anyone has any comments at all, please feel free to chime in.  

All the best...

Well, Maxx, I will be very interested in hearing more about your experimentation!  It sounds fascinating, and it is alway good to learn more about the art and science of fishkeeping.