I asked my friend translated an article in Aqua Journal (in Japanese version). Even Takashi's big tank at his house has some algae inside, but he let the algae grow on the drift woods instead of aquatic plants. he said with a proper caring should be no big problem. And the dead leaves must clear it everyday.

The below info is from http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/driftwood.html, that I paste it in here sharing with you.
"I often use branchy driftwood such as Old Black Wood without attaching aquatic plants on them, exposing their surface in order to take advantage of their texture and line. When used this way, the lines of dark driftwood tighten up an aquascape and clearly define the composition. However, some attention is required since algae tend to grow better on a bare surface of driftwood than on aquatic plants. Although putting herbivores into an aquarium is an effective way to deal with algae, Yamato Numa Ebi and Otocinclus are not effective for some type of algae. The green algae that lightly covers the entire surface of driftwood and black beard algae tends to grow on a bare surface of driftwood. For this type of algae, Siamese Flying Fox (Crossocheilus siamensis) and Parotocinclus maculicauda are effective. If algae growth is significant, you can drain the water from your aquarium and apply Phyton-Git with a brush directly on the driftwood exposed to air."