The best solution to any aquarium problem is to find and deal with the root cause and not not cover it up with a band-aid fix.
I agree.
Just doing a water change doesn't change any of the conditions that led to the algae bloom in the first place. All you have done is poured most of the algae down the drain - it will multiply and come back again.
To prevent it happening again you need to change something about your setup. Algae are just small plants and need two thing to grow, light and nutrients, so work on controlling those.
If your tank isn't planted, then reduce the level of lighting. Run the lights for less time, shade the tank, move it away from the window etc. If you are lighting the tank a plant growing levels, but have no plants - the algae will step up to the plate and take over.
If the tank is planted, then reducing the lights isn't an option - your plants will die off as well. In that case you want to encourage your plants to grow better, use up the available nutrients so there is none left for the algae. So generally more plants, more lights, CO2, and the various plant nutrient chemicals like Flourish. Get your plants to out compete the algae.
Thats 2 different strategies depending on how your tank is set up, but light and nutrient levels are the 2 things that you can control to some degree. If the mix is suitable for algae - it will grow.
Cheers
Ian
