Alrighty then! I see the PFS is gonna be kinda important to the look, and feel of this aquarium?
Definitely not a problem!
- Non-Substrate plants: Anubias (there are a LOT of different types), Java Fern and Java Moss are all great species of plants that you can tie on to driftwood pieces. The coarse/rough surfaces of lava rock and even Mountain Lace Rock pieces could be used to advantage as well. As you mention, rubber bands are a definite option to use in affixing the plants. The Japanese in the 'Nature Aquarium (Takahashi Amano!) use actual, polyester-based thread for that work.... My own choice? Skinny, plastic zip-ties! I personally found that the rubber bands didn't usually last long enough to get the plants properly rooted onto the object. The thread because, well... geeze, man. The skinny zip-ties worked great, were almost invisible and could be pretty easily removed when I was ready - and the plant looked like it had properly anchored itself on.
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- Potted, substrate-growing plants. I admire your thoughts of using the tabs and stuff to properly nutrify your plants. And yes.... it COULD work. But, well, I'm a pushover for what works best for the plant - and is easiest to set up and maintain later. So, for pots I recommend using those smaller-sized glass, bulbous-shaped goldfish or even Betta bowls. (Small top opening, larger internal size). I filled mine with high-grade potting soil. Yep. And then topped that off with around 2 inches or so of small particle, natural-colored gravel. Those things work really good! And, if you're gonna use larger-growing Sword Plants and stuff? (Nitrate Vacuums!) Those are just the ticket for getting enough organic material with the potting soil, to properly feed those nutrition pigs. You pot up the plant outside the tank, with wet potting soil. Small diameter gravel is packed-in/placed on top, and you may need to use lead plant weights initially until the plant roots itself in to the pot safely. And, it's actually pretty easy to site those things behind driftwood and rocks in the aquarium. I found that the rounded glass shape of the pot, with brown soil/root contents just blend into invisibility. With really good grow lights? Healthy, fast growing substrate plants like that are gonna make a huge difference in the look and feel of your aquarium. Plus, if things need to be moved around a bit - or moved into a larger tank? Potted plants make it incredibly easy to do so. And did I say that they tend to help A LOT in bringing down those Nitrate levels in the tank? Plus, I wound up selling some of mine later. Whew, one of my established, big sword plants went for a cool $100 bucks. Oh yes!