Is coral covered live rock still a viable filtration media, or a nutrient trap ?

[lockrookie]

I think you should ship it all to me buy new live rock and start over I can test your theory for you

[gregzz4]

You're both a big help

Glad I'm a Canreef member ...

Jeff, you wanna come here and buy some rock covered in stuff ? Bring money
$2 head

I counted over 200 heads of watermelon (probably closer to 400), and I have a rock with 150-200 heads of candy cane if you're feeling rich

Plus there's all those sunny d's I haven't counted yet .....

I need money for hardware so bring cash

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

You're both a big help

Well, let's be honest. You're asking something that can't be answered without guessing. Doubt there are a lot of studies on this, and given the variety of tanks in this condition that may or may not have nutrient issues, and our inability to really say why, the best you can do it see how it works out for you.

Ultimately, your tank will be fine until you hit the given threshold for your nutrient managing properties. So, what rock did you start with? How porous were those particular rocks? How many fish? How often do you feed? What do you feed? Total volume of water changes. Their frequency. Lighting period. Photosynthesis. Respiration. With/without sand to assist? Type and efficiency of skimmer. Do you supplement with carbon dosing?

Given the answers from all this, your tank will be unique and may or may not be able to keep up if/when the rock is fully encrusted with coral.

Does that help more??

[Dearth]

My understanding is any nutrients trapped in coral covered rock will over time be absorbed by the coral(s) on the rock if anything I think it's the nutrients trapped under the rock or in pockets created below the rock that are disturbed that can lead to imbalance

But that's my opinion with nothing to support it ....

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Dearth

My understanding is any nutrients trapped in coral covered rock will over time be absorbed by the coral(s) on the rock if anything I think it's the nutrients trapped under the rock or in pockets created below the rock that are disturbed that can lead to imbalance

But that's my opinion with nothing to support it ....

Having dismantled tanks and seeing these "pockets", I'd tend to agree. I think a design that allows free flow through and under rock is key in avoiding long term issues.
I do think that as a reef grows, you could remove rock as coral mass becomes bigger, with the corals now acting as nutrient export. This is of course very simplified, but I think a sound idea.

[Reef Pilot]

I think it depends on what type of corals. I have mushrooms on my lower levels, and no question they trap nutrients. That is very evident when I blow around them with my turkey baster. However, doesn't seem to affect my P04 or N03 levels. They are still consistently near zero. So I think any nutrients that do escape the trap are quickly exported by the skimmer, GFO and bio pellet reactor.

[AquaAddict]

Hi,

I have a lot of exposed rock with lots of nooks and crannies and not so much coral. The tank looks great but I need to use Instant Ocean's Nitrate Reducer to keep the algae in check and it does a very good job.

Just saying. I think your tank is georgious!

AquaAddict