This is a good aquarium algae web site. Try going through it to find one that most looks like what's in your tank. That will help trying to figure out a solution. :idea:
Bamboo isn't really an underwater plant. If you can get the tops out of the water they'll grow well enough that they should help keep algae off of them by absorbing the same nutrients the algae is feeding off of. Stinkin petco tricked me into buying some bamboo with it underwater in their tanks.
This is interesting information! I had them floating on the top of the tank until 2 days ago. I only planted them because I thought the oto's I have might eat whatever the black stuff was.
Got my bamboo at Petco too! I noticed when I was just there that their bamboo for sale, at least some of it, has this same black substance on it...hmmmmm?