Mermaid Cup Algae

[ChronicReefer]

Say my issue is residual sunlight getting into my condo. Would reducing the natural sunlight in my condo stop the algae? Or is the tank lighting sufficient enough to keep it growing once it started?

I was bold enough to start a mixed reef tank, so I know I need some nitrates for my soft corals (candy canes, acans, torch coral, frogspawn, brain coral etc..). Are even the slightest traces of nitrates/phosphates enough to start algae growth? I know I made some rookie decisions in my setup, so I'd understand If I gotta learn to live with the algae issue.