What's your thought's on using the "Miracle Mud" (or whatever it's called) (1 Viewer)

[gasman]

Just getting ready to get the sump wet and was wondering what everyone thought about using that miracle mud in the fuge or maybe the rock rubble area. I already have 2 gallons of those ceramic balls that BRS sells for the rubble area but was also wondering about using the mud somewhere in the sump. I talked to 1 guy at the expo that is using it as substrate in the tank(no thanks, I'm doing a deep sand bed). What's your thoughts?

 

[Gary]

I decided to use Miracle Mud in my refugium for the trace elements it contains. American Reef has a video on this method but they use it to grow caulerpa. I have it in silverware containers in my refugium with some live rock. Not sure what it really does but it seemed that super high PH problem balanced out after I put it in. The whole thing seems a little like voodoo to me but I thought I'd try it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gwj3MpRuxAk

 

[marty9876]

I really debated it when I did v1.0 of my fuge (mangroves etc.). Ended up with sugar sand, I just could not bring myself to paying the price (especially for the amount I needed).

Great reviews,great marketing- was very tempting. I'm somewhat biased now though because I never really had a fuge deliver a "solution" for nutrient control and the things become a big mess unless actively maintained.

 

[Travis Dragan]

Expense always ruled it out for me, besides the initial cost, having to replace some of it every 6 months or what ever it was seemed super spendy. Based on a lot of reviews from video's, forums and talking to people it sounds like it is very similar to a DSB without the trace elements. I would just stick to rubble and adding trace elements.

 

[Kevin Lake]

Unless it's simple to suck out the old mud and put new stuff back in without creating a cloudy & muddy mess, I won't be using it anytime soon.

 

[gasman]

Just watched the video Gary posted. The guy put the mud in plastic containers a year ago and changed one.......looks pretty simple. It didn't kick up too much when he took it out. Looked like it was a little more dirty with the new stuff going back in but, not terrible. Not quite sold on it yet. As stated above, I think a fuge isn't ever going to be a huge influence on the tank unless it's massive.....but,ever little bit helps.

 

[David Grigor]

I used for for about 3+ years spent about $400 on it, I just used it for denitrification, was just in the sump no algae. I built 3 equal compartments about 2.5" tall out of acrylic so that when you switch out a section it doesn't disturb the others in anyway. I'm a bit skeptical on just how much trace elements are actually going to dissolve into the water. As the 2 yeat mark approached just replaced with regular mud ( carib sea ). Didn't see any difference. Most macros aren't really rooted or anything. IMO: you better off with just sugar sized and dose what you need when you need it. Unless your very aggressive at exporting algae ( most refugiums don't even come close ) you don't really need any supplements maybe some iron every week or so.


I now use ATS for main filtration, something like this would be counter productive as I need all the nitrate my system can produce so I personally wouldn't consider mud, deepsand bed or anything other than the liverock in the display that can do any denitrification.

 

[gasman]

I knew I would hear from David sooner or later in this thread!!!!! I am not sold on it either yet. I have about 280 lbs of sugar-fine sand waiting to go in the tank after getting the rock set up. I think the sand bed is supposed to help with the denitrification also. I could always add it later if I had some itch to try it.

The refugium section in the sump is 20 gallons so, no matter what I do, it's not going make a "huge" difference.

 

[eschulist]

We have a mad scientist over here.

 

[marty9876]

Anyone every seen a Triton test result from a miracle mud system?

 

[Gary]

Gasman, nice looking sump, plumbing, etc.!!! Did you make the sump? It's glass right?

 

[gasman]

Gasman, nice looking sump, plumbing, etc.!!! Did you make the sump? It's glass right?

Brian (ArstenA) made the sump from acrylic.......THICK smoke tinted acrylic. It's a beast, I think it was 1/2" thick on all the outer panels. He found a deal on this thick smoked stuff. I didn't think I'd like the tinting so much but, it turns out I would actually prefer it to clear in the future, if I had to have another one built. You can see through it easy enough but, not so much as all the nasty crud will be as visible when I haven't cleaned it. Also, I think it will cut down on excess light growing algae where I don't want it.