does low flow mean more algae?

[dempseyjosh]

the flow in my 12g nano doesn't seem very strong and i'm getting a lot of brown hair algae. and where the flow is best(except for the bottom side of the rocks) there is no algae and coraline is doing best there.
should i get a power head to put in there? i don't want it to take up too much space since it is limited in a 12g. or should i upgrade the stock pump. or would it be something else?
i know my nitrates are high right now(about 20), but i'm waiting for the lfs or this site to get in the kent nitrate sponge.
my kh is low, but i'm putting in buffer for that, and my calcium is high. don't know what to do about that or if it will come down as the kh goes up.
upgrading the pump is what i'd rather to so it doesn't take up more space, but doesn't seem like it would be as effective as adding a powerhead.
what should i do?

 

[nycbob]

it's part of the cycle assuming ur tank is new. hv u tested for phospate? what water r u using? r u feeding alot or how many hours u leave the light on?

 

[maxalmon]

I agree with nycbob, it could be a combination of issues, over feeding, lights on too long, new tank cycle etc. How much are you feeding and how often?

 

[dempseyjosh]

here are my latest readings
PH between 8 and 8.5
kh was about 120
phosphate 0
nitrate about 20
nitrite 0
Calcium almost 600
ammonia 0
temp 81
specific gravity a tad above 1.026
i feed the 6 line a small flake twice a day and pinch out anything if he doesn't eat it. so i don't really think thats it.
the lights have been on from 9-9 everyday up until today i just reduced the time about 2 hours.
i am using real ocean water from *****. i still put it in a bucket for a day with a power head and filter before i put it in the tank.
i'm doing about a gallon water change every 5 days.
here is what i currently have in the tank
1 6 line wrasse
1 emerald crab
2 red leg hermits
4 blue leg hermits
2 dove snails
4 nass. snails

 

[michaeltx]

looks like diatoms which is a natural part of a tank balancing itself out. but the more flow the better in most cases if you dont have enough flow you could also get into a cybo problem later in on in the life of the tank.
just dont get a huge powerhead get a lower flow in a 12 gallon it wil be easy to creat a vortex type flow if your not careful with it.
Mike

 

[dempseyjosh]

the stuff on the sand i beleive is diatoms, it's whats on the rock that i'm more concerned with. it looks hairy not just turning brown.
upgrading the pump is what i'd rather to so it doesn't take up more space, but doesn't seem like it would be as effective as adding a powerhead.
so which would be better? upgrading the pump to strengthen the flow thats in there or add a small power head to add an additional current?

 

[michaeltx]

can you get a closer pic of what you say looks like hair it might be hair algae covered in diatoms.
I would opt for a small powerhead myself so you can direct the water movement where you wanted it or needed it dead spots in the flow cause problems .
Mike

 

[dempseyjosh]

now that i think about it, i believe it did start out a little greener than it is now. but it will have to wait until after the weekend for me to get a better picture than i did with my camera phone.
i also have bubbles that i can see against the tank underneath the sand. is this just happening because of algae like i see happening in the rest of the tank?

 

[michaeltx]

since algae is a plant it will release ovygen causeing little bubbles in the tank. so it could be because of that. if its coming out of the sand then it because the sand is developing and releases nitrogen gases as it develops.
mike