What happens when corals die to the calcium carbonate exoskeleton? Does it remain or fall apart? (coral reef?)

Question

What happens when corals die to the calcium carbonate exoskeleton? Does it remain or fall apart? (coral reef?)

Answer 1

as a whole it stays there but much of it is eated away by the ph, CO2 and other processes taking place in the ocean...

if left to its own devices.. it will slowly build up over the years

Answer 2

the exoskeleton stays put, and new coral grows on top of it. That is why there are many LARGE coral structures.