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

[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.