Miracle mud....good or bad?

[TRDfan]

I tried doing a search on this topic and to my surprise nothing popped up. Any one running the mud on their system? Pros?? Cons? I was debating running a HOB refugium just for the miracle mud instead of adding it to my sump


Also any advise to set it up without getting the water cloudy?

 

[b-ridge]

I've heard good and bad things about miracle mud. pros: real good on putting nutrients in your tank. cons: drives up nitrate levels

 

[TRDfan]

Why nitrates?

 

[Geraud]

I have some in my refugium (in sump). As long as you do have slow flow, no risk of getting a cloud of brown matter everywhere in your tank.

I did not notice anything nitrate-wise. My Caulerpa and Chaetomorpha are growing, but that does not mean any other substrate would have made a difference. ;-)

 

[mskvarenina]

What about the rumor about curing lateral line disease. Is this because the water is so "clean" by the mud that it actually heals fish?

 

[Geraud]

I actually use it for it being a substrate, I do not really pay any beliefs to the "miracle" part.

 

[TRDfan]

As long as you do have slow flow, no risk of getting a cloud of brown matter everywhere in your tank

That the reason I'm wondering if I should run a HOB refugium. My sump is not designed for slow moving water

 

[Geraud]

Cannot you set up something with slow flow?

What I did in mine is create a box made out of plexiglas, almost as high as the sump itself. Its "bottom" is elevated in order to avoid sediments to accumulate underneath it.

The water circulates through it from the other parts of the sump through small holes drilled on all the "walls".

The bottom is separated in two parts, filled equally with mud (a bit higher than the separation so that animals can move around there). The idea is that since you need to change the mud from time to time, it is easier to have this already made separation.

See the attached "schematic"

 

[mskvarenina]

Marine Depot is running a deal of the day today.

10 lbs is on it's way.

 

[TRDfan]

Thanks for sharing that Geraud :thumbup:

Anyone else have any advice/info?

 

[Sharkbait420]

It has the same benefits as a deep sand bed.

 

[reefer4eva]

Been using it for years and I personally wouldn't run a tank without it.never had a nitrate issue while using it,excellent macro algae growth and better coloration with my corals.i run a low nutrient mixed reef and I do not run my skimmer at night as this only depletes all the nutrients that the corals need for better growth that is being produced during the day

 

[TRDfan]

How long do u run ur skimmer reefer? And what time periods? I too am interested in the mud due to the fact that I run a low nutrient system

 

[reefer4eva]

Skimmer is on 12 hours during the day and off 12 hours during the night.IMO running a skimmer 24 hours (unless your tank is overstocked with fish causing a huge bioload)is pointless as this is removing a lot of trace elements also.

 

[tunicata]

I just bought the 1lb restart version, to try it out. Reefer4eva convinced me to give it a try. It was 7.99 at drsfostersmith and the rest of my order was enough to get free shipping, so no bigs.

I don't want it to increase my nutrients though. Lol, I'm already feeding much less.

 

[reefer4eva]

I just bought the 1lb restart version, to try it out. Reefer4eva convinced me to give it a try. It was 7.99 at drsfostersmith and the rest of my order was enough to get free shipping, so no bigs.

I don't want it to increase my nutrients though. Lol, I'm already feeding much less.

Sorry let me rephrase that...running a skimmer IMO depletes the trace elements that are being replemished thru water changes and the additives being added.miracle mud has a lot of trace elements that aren't being provided thru additives and water changes...I think I said that right...lol
How's the tank doing tunicata? any sand yet?

 

[tunicata]

Lol, no sand yet.

I am worried about all of the potential for detritus buildup!

I probably will take at least till near end of Feb. for me to decide on the sand issue.

I need to get another nitrate test kit, but right now all my sps look great.
I just switched from regular gfo to rowaphos last night.
Also changed my carbon.

I've done 15 g WC every week or so.

Still not feeding a lot.

Chaeto isn't growing fo rme though. I noticed last night a lot of the smaller pieces are turning clear.

 

[reefer4eva]

Up to you with or without the sand..sugar sized is the way to go IMO..that and a hefty clean up crew and you won't have worries...besides who likes seeing hermit crabs trying to skate on bare bottom glass..lmao..with the sump you have your going to need more miracle mud..rule of thumb for me is 1 1/2-2 inches

 

[reefer4eva]

That the reason I'm wondering if I should run a HOB refugium. My sump is not designed for slow moving water

If you buy the 1lb package it comes with a tray ..just put the miracle mud in that ,soak it with water from the tank,cover it with the bag it came in then slowly place the whole plastic tray in your refugium.remove the plastic bag .if you dont like what it does or changes your water paremeters in a negative way or your just not satisfied with it then all you have to do is remove the tray rather than trying to vacuum it out and make a mess.

 

[TRDfan]

Link? Which mud?