Thomas wrote:
My goal is to grow planted tanks, no worry about algae
This is fine. The Barr approach works well with fast growing plants. Its
just too high maintenance removing the tons of algae that grow and
replanting the tops of the masses of Hygrophila polysperma. There are
many of us who are well beyond the stage of simply growing tanks full of
green stuff and want to work with Anubias, Crypts, Spathiphyllum and a
host of other slow growing plants. Maybe we don't all want to spend
every Saturday afternoon pinching and pruning.
Start clean; stay as clean as you can. If you do get algae (it can
happen easily) then you have two choices. Live with it like Tom and
forego the slow growing plants for a jungle of H poly or clear it out
and start over. If, heaven forbid, you should find yourself with a tank
filled with Oedogonium or Spirogyra, don't make the mistake of believing
that you can cure it by pouring in nutrients. You will have to remove
all the plants with large colonies on them and replant the tops of the
fast growers. Be prepared to do this every week. Yes, this may be great
fun for newbies but its certainly not an optimal strategy for those of
us who have a life outside of aquariums.