BBA/Thread Algae

I am also experiencing the brush algea problem. I have been told by many that a blackout will not help. Instead, it was suggested to me to:
1. prune away any leaves that have the algea on them
2. scrape off algea from any equipment OR take out equipment (filters, heaters) and put them into a bleach solution to kill algea (rinse and put in water with declorinator before returning to tank)
3. do a 50% water change
4. add nutrients: KNO3, K2SO4, KH2PO4, trace (like maybe flourish)
5. be sure CO2 is at desired levels! This should actually come before the nutrients (check pH and KH against a chart -- there are many on the web)
6. add nutrients again 3-4 days later
7. do everything all over again the following week for 2-3 weeks

I have begun this plan just this past weekend and am seeing good results already!

Oh, just to answer your question about the blackout -- in my experience, I tried a blackout for 5 days to get rid of some green water a few years back. Worked like a charm as far as the water. I lost 2 fish though. I don't think it was due to the blackout though. They were already knocking on death's door. Usually, fish due just fine in blackouts.

GOOD LUCK!

BBA

A combination of the two will work better than either by themselves.
I had BBA before and it's tough. Here's what I did. I cut all heavily affected leaves off the plants and scrubbed any that was attached to the tank itself loose. There was even some growing on my heaters and filter parts(siphons, returns etc.). I dipped those affected parts in a solution 50/50 bleach/water. Then rinsed them well, and then put them in a bucket with fresh water with water conditioner in it before returning it to the tank. After re-assembling everything I did a 75% water change paying special attention to cleaning up any crap laying on the substrate. Disconnected CO2 and covered the tank with double layers of trash bags. Left it for 3 days. After 3 days another 75% water change and covered it up again for 2 more days. After those two days I did another 50% water change and started CO2 and ferts. Much of the BBA was either dead or gone when I uncovered the tank the second time. And getting the plants going with the CO2 and ferts was what kept it from returning. In a very short time I had zero BBA and haven't had a re-occurrence of the stuff.
The fish will be fine in the dark. I gave them a light feeding in between the two blackout periods, but it's not necessary.
If you have a spray bar raise it while in the blackout period.
This is also what convinced me to get some(TRUE) SAEs. They dine on BBA, but can't keep up with it when it's an epidemic. After it's controlled somewhat they will keep it in check.
Len

The fish will be fine. The algae will die off for the most part. Then it's up to you and keeping the water "clean" and fertilizing.
That crap is like the plague. Good luck!
Len
Edit: What part did you break, and how did that happen?

skittyfish -- I'm interested to see how the blackout works for you. Please let us know! thanks!

Did you find your missing fish? I've had my clowns dissappear before and swore that they had taken "Darwin's leap" to have them pop up from nowhere...usually around feeding time