Changed substrate today - question re urchin

[StanH]

After reading several posts and the article on changing out the substrate, we removed 1/2 of the crushed coral and replaced with sand. Everything went great, except that all of the live rock is covered with "dust". The rocks were covered when the crushed coral was removed. Sand was added using PVC tube to minimize floating.

We have an urchin who moves along the rocks and grazes on the algea. Since all the rocks are now dusty with no algea in plain view, will he be able to find enough food to eat?

Should we supplement his diet temporarily while the tank settles down and some algea reappears?

If so, what would you recommend? And where would you place the food?

Should we do anything to help the rocks recover?

We need to change our cannister filter pads... should we wait a week or so since the Any other recommendations for filters? 2 Ehiems 2213 and 2215.

The sand looks great!

Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[Hara]

I would shut off the pumps, take a turkey baster and dust off the rocks..wait until stuff settles and then turn things back on. That should get the majority of the dust off the rocks and the urchin will be happy again. You could get dried seaweed and rubber band it to a rock for the urchin to graze on as well. Don't worry about the rocks, they are fine.I would wait to change out the filter pads until they pick up the dust particles.

 

[StanH]

Thanks! We'll try that and see what happens!