welcome to aquatic plant layout world...

1) normally we practise weekly water change of 30 - 40%, water get clouded? so far, nope... with a stable and well develope system, ie bacteria system is healthy, u hardly get this...

2) depends on the plants type... high light plants, stem plants, i will trim roughly every2~3months....

hope will answer ur doubt...
anything not clear, please do ask....

lights if diy about roughly the bulb would cost rm30? then balast another 10 bucks and the casing about rm5..if a nice light straight off the shelf i would reckon i bout mine at rm130.

the soil gex would be rm30 per bag you'd need 2 bags rm60

filters varies.. from canisters from rm150 to thousands. hob would cost u rm40 60. or normal overhead filter cost u about gah, rm30?

fertilizers mine is rm20. thers alot of types as well..

lights about not sure.. 50watt?

temperature ideal is colder waters better plant growth? too cold also not good.. my temp avg is at 22degrees.. too low i think..

basically.. including tank, gah.. rm400.. maybe less maybe more..

thats because thats the price of the cheapest soil.. a brand named GEX.. high end soil are from the brand ADA. gex would fetch at rm30 per bag. ADA would go from rm80 to rm120++ per bag.

price of liquid fertilizers also differs.. from rm20 per bottle to rm 50 60 as well.. and theres alot of kinds of fertiizers u need to look at!

i personally arent fond of using HOB because of its size. its so small fr me    im using overhead filter with a 2ft filter box ontop of my 2ft tank. match it with a very powerful filter and u have urself a very good filtering system. flow rate im not sure though.. but any good sized filters would do

ok, based on my own experience and advice....

4) lighting?
depends of what type of plants....
low light? high light?
standard 2ft = 60x30x30cm =54L
around 50~60w lighting is ok
around RM200 if buy ready made (nicer appearance)
DIY might cost you ~RM80 (PLL 32w x 2)

5) temperature
the best is around 25 degree...
there are 2 ways
a) cheaper way, DIY PC fan, cost you around RM50
b) more efficient way, compressor type chiller, you can go survey the price for new 1, or 2nd hand.

i can think all of that at the moment, please do ask if anything not clear..

thanks
yujin

old pics.. u still can get these fishes from SLS in ara damansara though

the apistos are about rm15

the chocolate gouramis cant rmmber..

the bristlenose pleco was abt rm15 each i think..