Having a balanced tank equals less algae


So if your nutrients are too much for the plant mass adding more plants would balance it out. etc

 

Algae comes when there is the amount of light, nutrition etc. is greater than what plants can absorb. If this is the case then having more plants will help.
It also depends on what type of algae is present.

 

I think algae starts blooming when you don't have enough plant mass to quickly use up any small spikes in ammonia in the tank. The algae spores read ammonia spikes as meaning it is time to grow. But, with lots of plants, growing well, any ammonia is almost instantly consumed by the plants.

 

Ok thanks guys, so one thing. In my 20 gallon high tank I have 50 watts CF lighting and dose 2 times a week with Kent Freshwater Plant, and I have a little bit of both some beard algae, and a tiny bit of green spot algae. Will putting more plants in reduce the amount of algae?

 

Normally yes. But putting in more plants without adding macros will starve the plants even more. Kent Freshwater Plant (or the FloraPride in your signature) only adds Fe and traces.

So you'll end up with a worse situation by adding more plants with your fertilization method.

 

What is your photo period?

 

I prefer the Seachem line to Kents....

I think its a little cheaper too.....

 

Don't forget the role that the beneficial bacteria play in reducing algae as well. Each leaf on each stem plant is a place the bacteria can live on, the more plants you plant the more the number of bacteria grow exponentially. Both the plants and bacteria take in ammonia, so the algae has no food to grow on. So the answer to your question is yes. But remember your plants have to be healthy. The bacteria need the elivated levels of oxygen that the plants produce to grow on the increased surface areas that you are providing.