help growing plants in my tank

[flcountryskater]

I have a 55gallon tank with some cichlids and a clown knife. I have 3 Anubis plants on drift wood and a amazon sword. I need some advice on how to get them to grow better. I have been using Aqueon Plant food and my substrate is gravel. I have a coral life light using the 10k daylight bulbs. I don't see any new growth in the plants and some leaves are getting brown spots on them. Any advice to help them grow. I have attached some pics.

Thanks

 

[Rivercats]

The sword plant need root tabs as they are heavy root feeders and anubia's are slow growers so you might be expecting more growth than is normal. One thing tho I would change out that actinic bulb for something lower like a 6000, 6500, or 6700K bulb. This will help balance the 10K bulb out by adding more red spectrum.

 

[flcountryskater]

Thanks I don't even use that bulb as it doesn't look good at all. Is there any thing else I should do to help the Anubis to grow some more or better. Also would I be able to put another amazon sword in if I got the root tabs? Also do the tabs go under the plant or next to them in the gravel.

 

[Rivercats]

Yes you can do another Sword but since you have the light you should get a proper bulb which will give you more options for plants. I just put root tabs close to the Swords since they have extensive root systems and trying to put them under it would be really hard.

 

[flcountryskater]

Should I use the other bulbs with my 10k daylight or use just the other one

 

[Rivercats]

What is a really good combination is use your 10K bulb and get a "pink" rosette bulb to balance out the light by adding a heavy red spectrum to your tank. It will also help improve the color on plants and fish.

 

[flcountryskater]

I also got these tabs today, Seachem™ Flourish Tabs™ - Sale - Fish - PetSmart

 

[flcountryskater]

I was looking at this one
Amazon.com: Coralife Energy Savers ACL54325 Colormax Straight Bulb, 65w: Pet Supplies

Which is on there website as the colormax bulb
Replacement Lamps | Coralife Marine & Freshwater Aquarium Supplies