Planted aquarium troubles?

I've passed my phase of wanting colorful, toy looking kind of tank. I recently wanted to have a densely planted tank. Well, I did it. Its been up and running since February. And I've been facing barriers that I can seem to overcome.

First specs:
~My tank is 30 gallons.
~I've been doing this for about two years now.
~I have come along way in that time, researching alot.

Plants:
First, I know that the first plants in a aquarium usually will die and need replacing. Most of them have been doing well, but they aren't growing. My swords and cabomba have been taking a real beating, losing all leaves and practically being wiped out. And anachris? I can't even get it to live for 1 day!

Supplements for plants:
I am using 2 bags of flourite in place of gravel. Doesn't seem to have made a difference. I am using Flourish plant food, and I was told not to use plant tabs. I feed the tank a cap full of flourish on Mon and Thurs

Lights:
I have a hood with two light compartments. In one, I have a Coralife 10,000k Daylight T8 17 Watt bulb, 24 inches.
The next is a Coralife Colormax T8 17 Watt. If anyone could suggest different, or better lights, please say so.

Filter:
My filter is built into the hood. The tank brand is an SeaClear 30 Gallon Acrylic Aquarium. Pretty good filtration, actually.

Since you have all my specs, can you figure out why my plants aren't growing? Or even living?

FuzzyMuffin2014-07-02T20:28:52Z

Perhaps it's the lack of CO2? I too have a planted tank, but it's much smaller with a smaller variety.

You could possibly up the wattage of your lights. It's only a little over a watt per gallon, and I think you could possibly go to 2 or more. I'm not all that familiar with your plants though.

Our tanks are quite similar actually, we both use flourite and flourish, no root tabs or anything. The only difference I really see is the lack of CO2. I use flourish Excel, which you could use or you could go for the more precise pressurized CO2.

Good luck!