Thank you Robert!
I guess it's possible, but with enough flow in the tank, but I doubt it's an issue. I don't see much difference between the oyster cultches and some of the intricate live rock coral skeletons available for sale. I'm not growing live corals though, and none live in our Bay, so the ecosystem that I'm emulating is chock full of detritus, which might be a good thing in the future when I try and grow sea grasses.
Another thing to note is that for oyster shells with gaps large enough for any of the fish to enter seem to be free of detritus, simply from fish entering and exiting the structure, which they do all day long. It's really noticeable when one blenny chases another one out of a shell to claim it as its own. It is a constant game with all three species of these fish, territorial disputes over oyster shells and other hiding spots, establishing the pecking order, fighting over food. It's quite entertaining to watch. Even the most picked on fish look healthy and don't seem too bothered by the activity, as if they expect it...no big deal. No ragged fins, damage to flesh or eyes, etc. All this activity keeps detritus from building up in their hiding spots. Crabs and shrimp hide in the holes too, and other critters that eat detritus, so maybe that helps too.
The same thing may also be true with some of the holes between the oysters, fish keeping them somewhat clean.
That said, these tanks are like a huge experiment. My husbandry philosophy and practices might change a bit over time if needed. The goal is to try and duplicate the ecosystem as much as possible to achieve a healthy breeding environment for these fish while still keeping maintenance as low as possible. I will be learning more and more as I go, and as I do, I'll document what I learn here.
