My tank is such a mess from the plants in my tank. The driftwood leaches tannins like mad but I don't really mind that...its the algea and debris! I never had this problem before redecorating or using lights. Now I have black, blue-green, spot, and brown algea taking over the plants and tank very quickly. I have a feeling that the driftwood may be decomposing already because I am finding little peices and its is very soft. I keep finding little hornwort leaves everywhere too The nitrates are about 10 and I change water once or twice a week. Gah what do I do??

Brown algea means the tank isn't getting enough light. I had problems with it too when my tank was new. I left the lights on 24/7 and the brown algea went green.
As for the other types of algea, there are effective algea destroyers (that won't harm your plants) available.
So turn on the lights and/or get that algea destroyer!

I have the same problem. We have black algae growing on the glass, over the rocks and plants in the tank ever since adding a tea bag of plant fertiliser to the tank. What algae destroyers are safe for fish and plants, but is effective in destroying algae?

fw