Steve grew awesome A gracillus as did I and Erik with about 2-3 w/gal.
Very pretty, same with L granulosus.

Many like to claim HC is a high light plant which it's not either.
You'll note, many folks outside the USA use much less lighting and somehow manage.
They also grow these same species somehow without the higher light.

Now if you just like brightly lit tanks, that's fine, as well as adding CO2, but you cannot reconcile that with a desire to slow growth at the same time........there is a trade off there.

Still, if light is really the reason, how is it that many folks can grow these plants with less light and have good results?

I've grown these plants at much less light than you have and know they can be grown well at less light.

2 w/gal was high light back 15 years ago

Regards,
Tom Barr