Sediment on Rocks

[onemorbeer]

I have a 28g nanocube that has been set up for about 8 months. When I set the tank up, I put in the saltwater and then the live sand. I let the sand settle for a day and then added cured live rock. While adding the live rock, the sand was stirred quite a bit and left a thin layer on the rock. I had originally let this go thinking that the water flow would "blow" off the sediment and it would settle to the bottom or get caught in the filter. Since then, I have done some new aquascaping and have stirred up the sediment and it is still all over the rock. I have not had much new coraline growth on the parts of the rock where the sediment is. Does this sediment "sufficate" the live rock? Is there an easy way to remove the sediment? I was thinking that I could use a turkey baster and every couple of days "blow" off the rocks and then clean the filter the following day. I think this will work in time but I am wondering if anyone has a quicker way. I have used Pro Clear - Marine which seems to make the sediment settle quicker, but it does not get rid of it. Any help will be appreciated.

 

[rebelprettyboy]

Turkey baster should work perfectly. Or u could point ur powerhead at it and blow the sand off.. turkery baster would be easier

 

[onemorbeer]

Any word on whether or not sediment on live rock will kill the live rock or cause coraline algae to not grow?

 

[stanlalee]

sediment on the rock will harbor organics on the rock which will help feed nuisance algae. Keep the liverock surfaces as sediment free as possible. it wont harm the rock at all and it could only prevent coralline secondarily by allowing micro algae to take hold.

 

[blackjacktang]

I would get the weakest powerhead in my tank and make it go off.

 

[spanko]

Turkey baster is the hobbyists friend. You should actually us it on your rocks just before changing water each time. It will not only blow off the sand you are talking about but will also suspend detritus that has accumulated on the rocks. Fish poop, uneaten food, dead bacteria, plankton etc that you cannot even see. This suspended detritus becomes food for coral, can be removed by filtration and by the water change itself. Turkey basting the rocks should be a normal part of tank husbandry IMO.