Well IMHO yes and no.

In terms of just getting a tank setup where plants grow and fish live, planted tanks are extremely forgiving.

But for awesome plant growth then lights and nutrients do make a difference.

I have found using peat moss in the substrate and 1.5-2 watts/gallon of 6500k lights work nicely with no co2 and no dosing. KH and gh are constant over a few years at 4 degrees and 9 degrees. With no peat kh and gh increase and some fish like neon tetras do not last.

I have used flourescent of various color temperature and even incandescent lights. And in some tank very low levels. Although I do like the 6500k "pig tail" lights for looks and plant growth, the other lighting worked fine with fish and plants that lasted for years.

edit: For years i never measured pH. In my uncirculated planted tank pH is 8.4-8.8 with the api high range test kit. Even fish that are reported and "needing" much lower pH values lived for years.

But that's just me.

and my .02

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden