The porous rock also harbors bacteria which are the major base of biological filtration in the reef system. Some of the hardier plants and animals endure the change in conditions and will re-emerge when the rock is placed in good conditions of water quality, circulation, filtration, light, and temperature. This rock usually costs more but it saves time in the building of a reef system. Then the rock is shipped to the wholesaler. This eliminates some undesirable species, and causes less damage to the delicate plants and animals on the rock, which is then shipped to the wholesaler.
Successful transport depends on the packaging, handling, and speed of shipping.
After all, they want to get rid of the stuff before it smells up their warehouse. This rock is relatively cheap and is sold in boxes of about 40 lb. The quality of the rock then depends on how quickly it is transferred to an aquarium without exposure to big changes in water quality, temperature, light, etc. This means that the rock inhabitants continue the process of death and decomposition, and the pollutants produced by the decomposition are removed. The rock is placed in an unlighted tank with a high rate of water flow from a closed circulation system.