OK, ive got a large ammount of iron rich gravel. ive used both Seachems and the Carribsea versions, and i prefer the Carrib sea, its blacker, packed wet so theirs no rinsing, and it looks like little moon rocks.
I got an RO/DI water supply that i remineralise to 3GH and 4-5 KH with AB Aqualines GH tablets and Kent Marine KH+, this sould give you a PH of arround 6.9-7.0.
I then use my computer/probe/Co2 combo thingy, allong with the Co2/Ph relationship chart, and basically dose the correct ammount by setting the PH on the computer from the recomended level for my Ph on the chart. The Ph would then be arround 6.8 or so.
Ive found the plants are generally happier at a slightly higer KH, but the fish love it softer, and besides, why waste chemicals making the water harder again.
I then dose Potassium, as ive read on the message boards that this is used in conjunction with the Co2 & light by the plants, especially in elevated levels such as the ones ive created.
Ive got 4 T5 bulbs over the tank giving me over 3wpg so i can grow all the small grassy foreground plants and stuff. But i would allways have a HUGE ammount of floating plants to keep the algie away, at least for the start.
With regards to the spray bar, it looks like a cheese grater it has so many holes and i place it as close ot the surface as i can without causing to much Co2 escape.
Plant fertilizer i only use very sparingly as i feel that the Co2/light/mineral inriched substrate and pottasium should be enough. I dont really want to have to fertilise the watercolumn if i can help it.
ive also been using an air pump initially to help with the protien buildup at the surface. hopefully when its a little more mature i can turn it off.
ill get some pics when i can but im still in moving limbo at the moment.
hope that gives you some ideas.