Placing corals in the "intertidal zone"?

[jgvergo]

From Wikipedia - The intertidal zone, also known as the foreshore and seashore and sometimes referred to as the littoral zone, is the area that is above water at low tide and under water at high tide (in other words, the area between tide marks).

In my tank, there are some rocks that get exposed when I turn my return pump off for maintenance or feedings. The maximum amount of time the rocks are exposed to the air is typically 1 hour.

Two questions:
1. Is it safe to place corals on rocks that occasionally get exposed to the air
2. What species do you recommend for the ""intertidal zone"?

TIA

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

There are few reefers that actually do drain their tanks on purpose to simulate low and high tides for hours. I have not much more to add but I'll get someone who does. @brandon429

 

[brandon429]

that's really neat, my bowl is not fancy types of coral but I can drain my system down to zero water for up to 30 mins now... and likely longer but I don't know the max. that's all my corals, rocks and sand, they can sit so far for 30 mins in the air and I don't lose anything nor recycle anything, Ive done it hundreds and hundreds of times but only in 20-30 min increments.

Now here's someone I like to refer: the six hour guy Simon Garratt (im not sure if I can work up to that HA guts):

 

[brandon429]

https://reefbuilders.com/2010/10/19/simon-garratts-intertidal-reef-months/

this system below is my 12 yr old pico reef vase w mixed sps and lps. has shrimp and hitchhiker stars but no fish. when I clean it, the corals and rocks commonly sit on dinner plates for a long time as Im rinsing out the sand n stuff, they don't even get the luxury of submersion

 

[legionofdoon]

I was actually at the beach today and at low tide here there were zoas and porites corals that were exposed. The zoas were out of the water for about 3 hours. The porites about 1 hour. The zoas were bright greenish blue and the majority of the porites were brown but I did see a bubble gum pink one that was in about 3 inches of 90+ water. Next time I go I'll take pictures and post them.

 

[brandon429]

hey that’s neat you see that in person where is your reef located/country I bet it’s really nice if you are seeing sps

 

[legionofdoon]

I'm in South Florida. The Acroporas here are brown lol we also have siderastrea, and I'm not sure what it's called or what it scientific name is but it looks like a fungia coral but not quite. Where I go snorkeling I know where one is and it's green and red striped. It's been there for at least 3 years, in at low tide 2 feet of water and pretty low salinity.

 

[legionofdoon]

On a side note I saw french, gray and queen angels last time but today the water was too turbid.

 

[legionofdoon]

Today I collected about 50 blue leg hermit's in about 20 seconds right before we left. They literally form balls when the tide goes out.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Cool info already. Interested to see who else contributes