Hi Striped Bass, Welcome!
Good Questions..
Let me outline some principals and guidelines to help in you research into using CO2
Right off the top
You Do Not need CO2 to be successful with a planted tank the plants will just grow much slower. You just have to keep your light levels right at 2 watts per gallon. CO2 is responsible for very rapid and lush growth, it is addicting, don't do it if you don't like gardening and pruning.
It has some other fringe benefits (algae control for one) later on that.
If you are going to run a High Light (over 2 watts per gallon) tank that a lot of plants love, then you will need to supplement CO2. The high light fires the photosynthesis process and the need to uptake carbon. A fish tank without C02 added has only 4-5 ppm. Plants under high light require about 30-40 ppm available during lights on.
Why?...plants are 60-70% carbon. They use CO2 during photosynthesis to create plant mass, and supplement that with nutrients from the soil. Same in the tank except the nutrients can be available in the water as well as the substrate.
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Where can I get a can of co'2?
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Two ways..
A pressurised steel or aluminum tank filled and refilled by a local gas company, welding supply store etc.
A CO2 generator (usually do it your self) that uses a mixture of bakers yeast
and sugar to ferment and generate CO2 gas. Not very efficient for tanks over 30 gallons. Arron is using a new and interesting version of this method I am sure he will be glad to evaluate it. (now that he has the secret decoder ring charts)
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How much would I need for a 45GL freshwater tank?
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Assuming that you start your planted tank by packing it full of cheapo plants
(highly recommended) about 30-40 ppm all during the lights on period of 8 hours. I use a pressurised tank and blow thru about 5 pounds of CO2 every six weeks or so.
Depending on the source of the gas there are more than a few ways to go.
A pressurised tank requires a
regulator and needle valve.
Regulator = a device that controls the pressure of the gas. Gas in the tank is 800 lbs per sq. inch...on the delivery side of the regulator is 25 lbs. per sq. inch. Clearly a necessary piece of equipment.
Needle valve = finite control of the gas into the aquarium. Usually measured in bubbles thru a 3/16" tube. Example: 3 bubbles per second will give me 40 ppm dissolved CO2
Everyone take a breath it is really not that scary until you try to write it down.
The yeast generator is much less mechanical, gas being pushed under very low pressure through a tube from a chamber where the yeast, sugar, and water are. They are however not very consistent, which is important.
Dissolving the C02 in the tank water.
This gadget used with Yeast systems...
CO2 Natural Plant System
This is a reactor there are tons of variations on the market. It allows the CO2 bubbles to dissolve by water flow and agitation.
CO2 Reactor 1000
This is a diffuser which produces a fine mist of CO2 gas into the water
CO2 Glass Diffuser
I have used all of these and IMO and IME the micro bubble diffuser is the way to do it. I have built my own which produces an incredibly fine mist which circulates in the tank and comes into contact with the plants. Plant reaction has been great.
I think that is a pretty good outline, you need to visit pet supply sites, read articles on the web, look at equipment available etc. Do your Research!
There are three other equally important areas for planted tanks
1. Light
2. Nutrients = Dosing Ferts and Trace Elements.
3. Substrate
CO'2 and planted tank questions and more questions? 
Just have to say thanks. 
I hope you aren't thinking voodoo god, because I have had this slight sensation of needles poking me since... 
Jay & Ahill. I need to pick your's noise..JK brain's. 
