Waterdrop - What Dave Spencer is saying (and he is much more knowledgeable than me. I understand the rules but not the actual science
) is that although ammonia is a source for plant N it is also an algae trigger. So what we try to do is remove organic sources (ammonia) and replace with inorganic sources.
Therefore we have high weekly water changes removing ammonia. We have much larger filters than a non planted tank would use and we use high turnover which keeps detritus off the substrate. We don't want the rubbish landing on the substrate. we want it in our filter so the high flow will keeps it in suspension longer.
I think the product you are talking about is Seachem Purigen which soaks up ammonia and then after a period of use (different for each tank) you 'recharge' it. Some of us use it, some don't but another bonus is it can improve water clarity quite considerably. You will say 'my water is crystal clear'. That's what we all said
Buy a small 100ml bag, put it in your filter and then reassess how clear it was
We are trying to remove most of the ammonia but high plantmass does help the fight against algae considerably.
If you have just a few plants in your tank then the answer is simple. you need to go for the lowest light level possible with easy plants that can handle low light. No CO2 and minimal ferts. You have no choice if you want to be able to control the algae. We don't match the lights to our plantmass. We choose the light level for the purpose of the scape. If we want a long term lower maintenance then it is poitnles banging 3WPG above the tank. If we want a scape to run its course in 3 months be photographed, tear it down and onto the next scape then we use high light, but with highlight then we have to make sure CO2, Flow and dosing is bang up to scratch
With CO2 the first step is are you adding enough? More often than not this isn't the problem. We are injecting enough. The second and more common problem is 'Is the CO2 being distributed well enough' This is often the cause. We are injecting enough but it is not circulating very well and therefore there are fluctuating levels in other places within the tank. This is another reason for 10x + turnover. Not only does it allow you to use the flow to keep the bubbles in the water longer. It makes sure the whole tank is mixing well!!!
Wooden Chair - No idea on the sump thing but I haven't heard great things about their use in conjunction with planted tanks. Won't comment though as I have absolutely no experience
You are doing 50% water changes already. Stop being scared of the ferts and go EI. Then reduce at a later date when you have the setup sorted out and experience/confidence if you are still worried. If you are doing the 50% water changes already then you are already doing the one 'bane' of EI that deters most people from doing it.
BBA = poor CO2!!! either flow as stated above or the yeast setup not giving you enough. I would guess 'SUMP' (r.e. flow)
Over feeding and over ferting does not 'cause' algae outbreaks. I do both. I put more food in the tank than I need to and do not remove any!!! The flow/filter.plants does the work for me. Ammonia without good flow/filtration to keep it moving/remove it etc = algae. then it feeds on nutrient just as plants do.
That blue greenish stuff is Cyanobacteria not algae. This can be caused by low nitrates, dirty substrate, poor filter maintenance etc. People with very high flow EI setups don't know what Cyanobcateria unless they got it in an old setup pre-learning
The position you are suggesting would also suggest to me that sunlight is hitting the glass. If so just stick a line of black insulation tape so it coves the visible substrate layer and just above it. Take it off for photos and replace with new each time
Don't associate gardening with an aquarium. You will confuse your self with contradictions. Gardening is easy. put something into the ground. throw ferts onto the soil. Leave it for a few months unless it needs watering
Try that with an aquarium and you will come back to a mess
Don't bother doing that season cycle. lol. Pick a time and leave it to that. Tropical areas are basically the same light all year round!!!. Choose 8-10 hours and leave it.
No problem with doing dawn dusk etc but it won't improve plant growth. that is for you and you to enjoy. do you leave the moonlights on all night? If so do you stay up all night? Wasting electricity here
I'm not reading the 'checks' throw those kits away or hide them in the cupboard. they will lead you to problems in this side of the hobby.
Keeping N low. Why? Go EI and stop worrying about N. the plants need loads and fish toxicity levels are out of reach of anyone who administers recommended levels alongside 50% water changes
Forget this 12/12 stuff. Listen to Aquatic Gardeners/scapers. Ask them if they ever pay any attention to the light cycle in nature!!!
Don't know what an EC meter is, do not understand TDS either. I don't need to and neither do you nor do you need to test these things. Read your water board's report if you are so worried. Theres not a lot in an aquarium needs testing that much that you cannot see with your own eyes.
Don't try to transfer knowledge from one area to another. That leads people to the wrong conclusions. Reefers who go planted struggle until they learn to let go of the control freakery that they do need with reefkeeping. These parameters are not of concern within the freshwater planted environment. If someone from Rugby League moved straight into Rugby Union they would look like an amateur. they have to totally learn a new set of rules, way of playing, different tactics, different speed of play etc. Same game in theory, very very diferent in practice
Learn everything as if it is something completely new. You have 2 hobbies here. Your hobby is not just gardening!!! You have one hobby that is gardening and another that is aquatic gardening. 2 seperate and totally different disciplines. Associations lead to assumptions. Assumptions lead to problems and because you are assuming things you don't associate the problem to these areas because you already ruled them out as you are assuming they are already correct.
Try and grow your planted aquarium emersed. No algae. That is hydroponics. Some do that to start a tank without algae!!! Put the water in is a whole new world with new problems.
Lecture over. lol
AC
cratches head:: 
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