I've kept a fresh water tank for most of my life, but only switch to live plants a few years ago. I'm not trying to win any aquascaping awards, but I'd like to have a green, natural-looking tank. I have a 46 gallon bow front tank with a Fluval Aqua Fresh and Plant 2.0 46 watt LED light. For several years, I had success growing tall Italian Vallisneria that frequently needed to be cut back. Not much else would grow, but I was okay with that. Then, I bought three Siamese Algae eaters to help with a black algae problem. They cured me of my algae problem, but then went to work on my plants. When the plants were all gone, I decided to give the Algea eaters away and replant my tank. Nothing else has changed, but for some reason, I cannot get anything to grow. I have Italian Vallisneria and Red Jungle Vallisneria as well as some Java fern and anubis narrow leaf. Nothing will grow more than a few inches off the substrate or drift wood. Some aquarium store staff have suggested doing water changes with distilled water, as I have hard well water, but I've been doing that for years. Others have said my tank is too deep and the light doesn't reach the bottom. Suggestions? Do I need more light? I'd like to avoid a Co2 system, but I'm not entirely opposed. Is there something wrong with my water. Why was the Vallisneria growing before but not now?