BoSox Fan7

Do live plants affect algae in a good way, a bad way or no way at all?

Thanks

gremlin

Live plants use the nutrients in the water so there is less food for the algae...

Isabella

Gremlin in right Plants affect the tank positively by helping consume available nutrients (including fish wastes) so that less of those nutrients is left available for algae. Alagae compete with plants for nutrients, so the healthier the plants, the better (since healthy plants can remove nutrients/wastes faster than algae can). However, if your plants are doing poorly and start to die/decay, this way you're creating more nutrients available for algae. The decaying plant matter is a source of nutrients for algae too.

MrWaxhead

Yes the biggest key for algae to spike for the most part is ammonia, so your fish waste basically, and even when your test don't show ammonia, it always is present very briefly before your beneficial convert it. And plants are a huge consumer of ammonia as well, so they will as isabella pointed out if they are healthy and growing fast consume very large quantities of ammonia, and phosphates and nitrates. All key algae foods and all key bad ingredients for your fish.

Healthy fast growing plants are actually so good at this job that a very heavily planted tank (if plants are growing well) can basically keep a cycling tank in check, and make it so fish can safely go into a fresh tank (with normal water changes etc). BUT I would strongly discourage against this unless you have a good grasp on growing healthy fast growing plants or you are going to have a cycling issue on your hands and sick fish. I have set up 3 tanks in a row with mature filters and heavy plant load and fish they day it was up and running with no ammonia or nitrite issues in the least.

I honestly could never go back to a unplanted aquarium again, there are just way to many positive aspects to plants, the only negative aspect is the work involved, you have to do alot of trimming and replanting with fast growing species of plants. I personally really enjoy doing that though, it is kinda my wind down relaxation thing to do. And watching fish in a planted tank is amazing they have a level of calmness and flow to them that I have never had in a non planted tank.