Plants prefer softer water. Unhappy plants can cause algae. I'm not sure what kind of plants you are growing, but you want to accommodate them as best as possible. If they start to struggle, it will cause algae.
If you really want to take the next step, you'll want to start understanding GH and KH and a few ratios.
This link really helped me to achieve a certain look.
Hope this helps.
https://www.2hraquarist.com/