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

[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.

[lockrookie]

If I could I would

Dude I recently spent 400 on coral that crapped out on me this why I'm building a frag tank

[lockrookie]

I do feel your pain tho

[gregzz4]

Yup, that's about what my lr looks like

I'm thinkin' about a reset, and a total tank overhaul in the process

[lockrookie]

I wouldn't worry about it this rock had its own melt down and all disappears on its own except a quarter size chunk only recently it started to grow back and is now a fourth of the rock again. Enjoy the good growth don't mess with what's working

[lockrookie]

One thing I have concluded about this hobby your tank is forever changing its like the weather every year something different happens good or bad but it still changes

[daplatapus]

Both those tanks are looking nice. Just think of all the things we WOULDN'T learn if we didn't do at least mini-re-sets