Good advice on the blanched zucchini. I cut mine up and individually wrap them and freeze them for future use. Three minutes in boiling water.
Technically, I don't think anyone can say what causes or discourages algae. There are some that have their technique down good, and combined with good tank hygiene and balancing the needs of the plants they have minimal algae problems. And then there are the rest of us who try to emulate them. There are so many types of algae that even a book wouldn't be big enough to hold all the stuff people try to minimize its impact.
I am using mostly Tom Barr's advice (Plantbrain on this list). It does seem that plant nutrient deficiencies encourage algae, while providing an excess of plant nutrients does not increase algae's foothold in a tank. So I lot of us just try to make sure the plants have what they need to grow. Technically, algae needs a lot less to grow than plants, so starving the algae doesn't work.
If you eventually get an algae outbreak, don't wait. Start fighting it immediately. Feel free to ask on this forum for advice.
Regards,
Steve Pituch