wow there amazing ... id bring in one plant indoors and finish it so if all else fails at least youve one gone to bud.

as for water and algae ... i dont know much about growing but i know everything possible about tropical fish haha and algae in the water isnt a bad sign, the worst it will do is bring down the oxegen levels in the water, and algae wont grow in bad water so its normally a good sign. If you left the algae too long or in the dark and it died then it would start rotting and cause nitrates which is bad for fish but from biology class many many years ago i remember plants love nitrates but duno about herb loving nitrates ud probably know best there.

so my next question .. whats your exact address and when will you be out at work haha :P fair play to you