I plan on having a 55 gallon high tech tank. I am dirting it of course.

Several questions regarding substrate:

Sand?

-If so what kind is the best and will plants do okay?

Gravel?

-Done it want to try something new.

Which one would you say would do best with congo tetras, 2 silver zebra angelfish, and around 5 Corry Catfish.

Need some help if anyone can help..

I am setting up a high tech 55 gallon and so on. I will use dirt to get the plants growing with clay and all. My question is what should I cap it with? 

I have gravel in my 29 which it looks okay. I like the way sand looks in a tank. I would use play sand or pool sand from lowes to cap my dirt. I will have congo tetras and Corey's in my 55 with a heavy amount of plants.

Give me your ideas on what is best sand or gravel? 

I plan on setting up a 55 with dirt around 30 to 40 Lbs of dirt. Then add Co2 with an aquaticlife t5 HO 48" light strip. possibly adding an additional one. I will be doing injected Co2 with a regulator attached to a inline reactor which will be attached to my out take like of my 305 canister. 

Live Stock

-11 Congo Tetras

-4 Corey catfish

-1 or 2 Siamese algae eater. 

-(maybe) two decent size angelfish…