Benefit of corals?

[rayn]

Just after thoughts people have. Is there a benefit to having corals in a tank? Forget the eye candy aspect or the ability for them to grow, but do they contribute to the tank itself. Do they help the tank mature? Do they soak up ammonia along with nitrates and phosphates? Is a tank that is fish less or mostly fish less, but with a bunch of corals healthier?

Thoughts?

 

[brandon429]

I know one. I've never seen algae growing on the flesh of an acan. Off an exposed septal ridge, sure but not on the flesh. Same for my war coral, can't grow gha there either if coral health remains and it's adding mass

Living coral mass can directly compete with algae for vital space