Coral effects on nutrient levels?

[Mark75]

Do SPS or any coral for that matter reduce nitrate and or phosphate in an aquarium?

For example if you where to set up two identical tanks using identical water with identical bio load one fish only and the other full of huge SPS colonies would you find the tank with SPS had lower nutrient level?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, they reduce phosphate and probably nitrate (unless they are getting their nitrogen directly from ammonia).

They build their tissues using these compounds. They do not, generally, grow as fast as things like macroalgae, but they are a net sink.