awww, don't worry! I wish I could help you with the plant thing but this is the only tank I have with real plants and it is only 2 days worth, so I have zero experience.
However, the guys at the good ole fish store (forced) me to buy a 240 dollar coralife light for this tank and said it is the best possible thing I could do for a planted tank, it is SUPER BRIGHT!!!! 130 watts, the thing even has 2 cooling fans in it!