I'm new and this is my first posting.
So here is the problem. I have had a 55 gallon planted tank for about 3 months now with very little growth and a few plants just not making it at all. For lighting I have an aqueon LED 48" with two colormax strips at 7W (equivalent to 75W each) and one blue max strip. It runs for 12 hours on a timer. I have the CO2 tank on the same timer using ceramic disk under a powerhead. I have a bubbler that runs at night. My drop checkers are nice and green with 4 dkh solution so I know I'm in the zone for good CO2 levels. I check it with ph level and kH level and it's usually at 20 to 25 ppm. I do regular water changes (20%) and use excel flourish and trace every few days (not on same day). I put some tablets in substrate month ago. Substrate is 60 pounds of Eco-Complete and have 2" to 4" (it varies). Filtration is the canister - Fluval 306. The ph is 7.2, 0.0 ammonia, 0.0 nitrites and 40ppm of nitrates. Phosphate was high - like 5.0-10.0 ppm.
Slight green spotting on acrylic tank (hard to remove without scratching) that has been present for several months and hasn't gotten worse. Plants are basic pet store stuff: Amazon sword, anubias nano, wendii, some grassy stuff and a few others that I can't remember or spell (clearly). The only plant that is thriving is the anubias nano attached to driftwood and a rock. I get a new leaf per week. None of the other plants gave done much but just stay alive.
Please help. Do I need an additional light source like a T5 or something?
So here is the problem. I have had a 55 gallon planted tank for about 3 months now with very little growth and a few plants just not making it at all. For lighting I have an aqueon LED 48" with two colormax strips at 7W (equivalent to 75W each) and one blue max strip. It runs for 12 hours on a timer. I have the CO2 tank on the same timer using ceramic disk under a powerhead. I have a bubbler that runs at night. My drop checkers are nice and green with 4 dkh solution so I know I'm in the zone for good CO2 levels. I check it with ph level and kH level and it's usually at 20 to 25 ppm. I do regular water changes (20%) and use excel flourish and trace every few days (not on same day). I put some tablets in substrate month ago. Substrate is 60 pounds of Eco-Complete and have 2" to 4" (it varies). Filtration is the canister - Fluval 306. The ph is 7.2, 0.0 ammonia, 0.0 nitrites and 40ppm of nitrates. Phosphate was high - like 5.0-10.0 ppm.
Slight green spotting on acrylic tank (hard to remove without scratching) that has been present for several months and hasn't gotten worse. Plants are basic pet store stuff: Amazon sword, anubias nano, wendii, some grassy stuff and a few others that I can't remember or spell (clearly). The only plant that is thriving is the anubias nano attached to driftwood and a rock. I get a new leaf per week. None of the other plants gave done much but just stay alive.
Please help. Do I need an additional light source like a T5 or something?