Too much algae

[Aloha919]

My 4 gallon tank has TONS OF ALGAE, shrimp are ok. I have to clean the sides once a week. Is there anyway to slow the growth ?
The images are post cleaning.

[Varanus]

All these things should help:

1. Substantially reduce how much light the tank has per day.

2. Do not feed AT ALL until the algae is mostly gone.

3. Get some of Mustafa's snails to help clean up.

[Aloha919]

Thank you so much ... will my shrimp be OK in the dark for most of the day ?
I thought they needed a sleep / wake cycle . You know what I just won't turn on the light on the tank, and just let them get ambient light .
Thanks again

[Varanus]

Thank you so much ... will my shrimp be OK in the dark for most of the day ?
I thought they needed a sleep / wake cycle . You know what I just won't turn on the light on the tank, and just let them get ambient light .
Thanks again

The light is more to keep algae growing rather than for a sleep/wake cycle, according to Mustafa these shrimp don't appear to sleep, and they naturally spend a lot of time in darkness as well in the countless crevices and tunnels of their natural habitat.

[Aloha919]

Awesome, I actually got some new pipipi snails (Nerite) from the beach yesterday, they're doing their thing ... so far so good ... of course I cut the light down by half.
Thanks again