I do have prior experience in Fresh Water planted tanks with only mechanical filtration. This is not to say I ran a turf scrubber. The emphasis of the display were on gardening and not on filtration studies. Freshwater vascular planted tanks are not nearly as difficult to control algae as reef tanks, as long as growth is P limited. I have found Java Moss to be an excellent phosphate sponge that can be exported from main tank. They are also more work in some ways than reef tanks as growth of plants is amazing and a great display may only last for a few weeks before it is overgrown again.
Using Sears-Colins nutrient studies, I was easily able to promote vascular freshwater plant growth. Many others have had great success with the basic recipe of macro and micro nutrients. However, I learned that these displays were ALWAYS more forgiving when the bog plant java moss was present. It was exported directly from the display tank much like a turf scrubber is scraped, but far less messy, and not unpleasant in primary display.
On a practical level fresh water displays need very little testing as you can look at the types of algae growing and determine waht to do. For example tiny tuft of micro algae as little dots on glass indicate conditions are near perfect for plants. BlueGreen Algae are indicative of excess phosphate. Pale yellow indicate iron deficiency. Planted tanks also become phosphate limited easily and phosphate can be spiked. Never do this in a reef tank! Even a type of algae is present when too much iron is present.
ATS will always make great sense in ponds and monster fish tanks but in planted tanks Java Moss is a great substitute for making system more forgiving.