This depends primarily on the type of rock that is used.
The typical reef rocks available in the hobby contain high portions of aragonite and are very porous.
With the combined effects of water movement, CUC grazing and erosion/dissolution of aragonite, it is virtually impossible to completely clog the surface area to the point of significantly diminishing bacterial populations.
Unless you are dosing carbon, then the surface has nothing to do with nitrate.
As i said about the surface-Externally on the live rock, if there is encrusting coralline or anything else growing on it, then the “aerobic” cyclers will become reduced over time as well.
Now not on the surface, this about “internally”, as I said-If your bio media is in the aquarium like live rock, then this media will cease to reduce nitrate over time as it becomes clogged.
If you are not carbon dosing, your nitrate reduction will be reduced, all this happens in low to no oxygen zones called anaerobic or anoxic, that’s “inside” the base or live rock, not on the out side!!
That area is called aerobic!
Aragonite or not, it all ends up the same and you need to think about cooking your rock with in the 6 month to 5 year time frame.
All tanks vary as to how fast the blocking affect takes away nitrate reduction, so just like near all other reefers you will be testing higher nitrate levels then previously.
Get back to me in a few years and say you didn't, that wont happen!