If you want the results of your plants growing nicely, yes it require work not as SW.
Important is your aqua soil/substrate (I prefer amazonia from ADA), water change about once a week for established tanks once every other week, fertilizer is a factor too, as important is Co2 dosing.
Lights as in 6700k or 5500k PC about 3 to 5 watts per gallon. Filter system (I prefer a closed loop system) Eheim canisters can't go wrong with that, I think the best there is.
I used Eheim now for about 35 years.
Hook up with ADG (Aquarium Design Group) there's a group of ppl that meet once or every other month at the ADG shop for a meeting.
Good luck.