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

I see many beautiful tanks overrun with enviable corals and want to emulate them. But it makes me wonder about the lr being 'plugged up' as it's covered.

My better half wants me to over populate our rock, and I agree it looks great, but hows it for phosphates and such that may/are trapped in the rock ?
Wouldn't this lead to 'old tank syndrome' ?

Thanks for all input
Let the debate begin ...

Good question. I think it's not really a concern, as most coral encrust a relatively small area in relation to the "crown". Even when my tank was fully stocked, there was plenty of exposed rock surface below the coral.

I think about some of the encrusting pests that I currently have, and they are completely covering the rock

IE; pink/red monti, and all the zoas. Man, there's zoas Everywhere :surprise:

If you need an example I'll post some pics ... my rocks are SMOTHERED

Also, as I think about it, fully mature colonies will utilize nitrogen and phosphorous in there cellular makeup.

I saw a tank on RC that had about 1lb of rock per 10g and 0 nutrients. Big colonies though..

As per my example, I think as more coral grow, the less rock needs to do. You still have a large portion on the undersides that is exposed.

So the corals will use up the nutrients underneath themselves, and then no more nutrients reach the LR ?

I'd like to think that's the case

My guess is yes. I don't stock those types of coral, but many do without nutrient accumulation.

I hope you're right as, for now, I've got all kinds of trapped LR under corals I hope to evict some time this year, and it makes me wonder about nutrients

I'll post some pics in my build thread and link them here ...

Thanks Bradbo

I realise things all balance out in the ocean, and rocks get covered in corals, but how does it affect us reefers ?
No more bacteria ? Trapped PO4 ? No nitrogen activity ?

My tank is rather busy covering the rock right now

Sorry for the crappy pics ... my camera doesn't capture anything well when the whites are off :smile:

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...psixuanry0.jpg

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...psxa3nkri5.jpg

http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/x...psip5dekmf.jpg