how long do you blow off dead looking stuff off uncured rock?

[starmom]

my figi and tonga uncured rock are in my tank three weeks from last friday......

there is some plant life on the rock, not alot and its very tiny, there were some green plants on the tonga branch that looked good for around a week or so and now are more or less greywhitish, and lots of whitish areas that appear to be in layers and some that looks like particles...

i have been using the turkey baster and "blowing off" the dead looking stuff a bit.........

should i continue doing this? its this good or bad for the rock?
if you get rid of the dying stuff doesnt this make room for the stuff that will regrow? or am i wrong.....

i have a few things that are growing and look "alive" and ive got what looks like little individual hairs growing, some of them are long (1/4 inch) and then there is alittle that is of the fuzzier variety...

i have no critters of any sort that i have added, have not witnessed any that came with the rock except for a teeny tiny shell or so that is now on the bottom.... (but i keep looking and hoping) some dead little bug like critters that remind me of sesame seeds in the shape and a medicum brown color but none alive that i have seen)

any ideas?

thanks
sue

 

[Gealcath]

If you want to see if there is anything living on/in the rock, wait for it get completely dark and turn out all the lights. After about 30min-1 hour use a red filterd light and you should see alot more critters then you expect.

 

[starmom]

dumb question, where do you get a red filtered light?

i have a moonlight bulb in my canopy would they come out if i left that on? how about a flashlight after darkness for 30 min to an hour?

thanks...
sue

 

[Gealcath]

Red light is used best because it simulates darkness. If any type of bright light is used like a ordinary flashlight anything that did come out will likely go into hiding.