Sand isn't really that hard to maintain. The only difficulty I can imagine is getting your old substrate out and putting new sand in. Just make sure you rinse the sand well before adding it to an established tank.
Again, if you are serious about a planted tank, you should not use crushed coral nor add any salt. Even the most robust of plants will not fare well in the long run.
How well or fast your plants grow depends on three factors:
1. Lighting (duration and intensity)
2. Fertilization (dissolved in the water column and/or placed in substrate)
3. Dissolved CO2
However, just because you don't provide all three factors does not mean you can't enjoy a planted tank. Your plant selection will just be limited.
If you are looking for a neat evenly spaced planted aquascape, don't go with amazon swords as a single plant can easily take over your 55 gallon. Also, depending on your conditions, it is very likely with swords that as new leaves grow out older leaves will get pushed down, turn yellow, die, and decay in your tank unless you prune consistently.
I recommend anubias and java fern to start. Neither requires a specific type of substrate (but no crushed coral!) or strong lighting, and they are pretty robust. Although CO2 will bring out the best in them, they will be content without it. As others have mentioned here, you can tied those plants around driftwood or just plant them in the sand... just remember with anubias, don't bury the rhizome.
Good luck with you tank.
Again, if you are serious about a planted tank, you should not use crushed coral nor add any salt. Even the most robust of plants will not fare well in the long run.
How well or fast your plants grow depends on three factors:
1. Lighting (duration and intensity)
2. Fertilization (dissolved in the water column and/or placed in substrate)
3. Dissolved CO2
However, just because you don't provide all three factors does not mean you can't enjoy a planted tank. Your plant selection will just be limited.
If you are looking for a neat evenly spaced planted aquascape, don't go with amazon swords as a single plant can easily take over your 55 gallon. Also, depending on your conditions, it is very likely with swords that as new leaves grow out older leaves will get pushed down, turn yellow, die, and decay in your tank unless you prune consistently.
I recommend anubias and java fern to start. Neither requires a specific type of substrate (but no crushed coral!) or strong lighting, and they are pretty robust. Although CO2 will bring out the best in them, they will be content without it. As others have mentioned here, you can tied those plants around driftwood or just plant them in the sand... just remember with anubias, don't bury the rhizome.
Good luck with you tank.
