I think many people obmitted the function of starter plants. They're not exclusively for newbie or low tech tank, but they serve a extremely good function in a new or even an established tank.
When I start a new tank, I would put lots and lots of cheap plants into it. They help stablize the chemistry, and suck up excessive nutrients in no time. They're the best bet on algae preventing in the first place, not articificial resins, not any high tech equipment. Once they get hold of the tank, you can slowly, and I emphasis "slowly" replace them with the plants you desire.
For an established tank, starter plants is also very useful. For one, they grow very fast, and ALWAYS out compete anything else, even algae. So I have something that would show me balance of nutrient level everyday, lack of anything, or too much or anything, they will tell me in 24 hours. If you have an algae outbreak, just stop prunning them, let them take over for a while, and your algae problem would be gone.
And fast growers produce more algaecide than other plants, this help put algae and micro bacteria in control very effectively.
If you have problem growing plants you want, try plant smoething easier first, then slowly replace it with more difficult plants. I am sure the result would be surprisingly good.
Most problem on this hobby is about step by step.
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