Turbid inshore reefs are composed of corals that have adapted to survive, and in some cases thrive, in marginal conditions, such as high concentrations of suspended sediments and higher sea surface temperatures than clear-water offshore reefs. As such, there is potential for these reefs to provide refugia in the face of unprecedented climatic variability and other anthropogenic pressures in the future. However, these reefs are greatly understudied. Here we investigate health, resilience, and refuge potential of two inshore turbid reefs in Quandamooka (Moreton Bay) through the application of carbonate budgets. This involved an assessment of gross carbonate production using in situ benthic assessments and structural formation to determine coral growth rates. Further, we assessed rates of biological carbonate removal using a novel method where coral rubble samples were collected, weighed and redeployed for 6 months to determine carbonate loss. The results of this project will provide local communities with novel information on the health of the reefs, as well as contribute to the global lack of knowledge on the functioning and sustainability of inshore turbid reefs in the face of climate change.