Miracle Mud or Deep Sand Bed in Sump Refugium for Bare Bottom Display Tank

[Zacco]

Hey All. I am currently working on a new 40 gallon Breeder Build that will be bare bottom in the display tank. Should I go with Miracle Mud or a Deep Sand Bed in the refugium section of my sump along with the Chaetomorpha? I feel that I need some type of substrate in the refugium being that im going bare bottom. ( bacteria+home for the little critters + slow release of trace elements). I'll have about 50 to 60 pounds of live rock in the display plus some in the Drain/ skimmer section of the sump. Any enlightenment would be greatly appreciated.

 

[beaslbob]

I would not use miracle mud for anything. IMHO its basically some silicon sand with iron.
I would not use any sand in the refugium and just use macro algae like chaetomorphia instead.
the macros do more by balancing out and consuming ammonia/nitrates/phosphate and co2 while returning oxygen, fish food, and pods.
my .02

 

[Preyou]

There are a number of YouTube videos out there that address this very question. One specific reef keeper that I respect greatly, Mike Paletta, swears by Miracle
Mud and uses it in every one of his tanks. I would suggest that you do your research and make a decision on your own on this one. It is very possible to build a reef with no substrate in your refugium... it is also possible to build a system using Miracle Mud or other substrate in your fuge and be quite successful.

 

[Zacco]

There are a number of YouTube videos out there that address this very question. One specific reef keeper that I respect greatly, Mike Paletta, swears by Miracle
Mud and uses it in every one of his tanks. I would suggest that you do your research and make a decision on your own on this one. It is very possible to build a reef with no substrate in your refugium... it is also possible to build a system using Miracle Mud or other substrate in your fuge and be quite successful.

I heard that Miracle Mud can be very beneficial for keeping SPS Corals being that it supplies them with a constant source trace elements. Also heard that Chaetomorpha grows like crazy in the presence of MM. ( I guess from the silica uptake). And with the right Skimmer and Media Reactor, MM is not an issue with the release of silicates and iron. This has been a 50/50 battle for years and years. I would like to hear from people that actually run MM or have tried MM. Not being Bias,but to the Naysayers that have not ever used MM, how can you comment? Being that im going bare bottom, I feel that the Microfauna need a place to live other than live rock. Am I wrong for thinking this?

 

[d2mini]

Another option is Walt Smith's Fiji Mud.
It's real mud from fiji.

 

[tonizzy22]

There are many ways to run a successful tank. MM works best with rooting macro algae and DSB doesn't need algae but is a plus.

 

[ritter6788]

I'm a BB fan, display and sump. I like to be able to siphon every bit of detritus when I do water changes.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I heard that Miracle Mud can be very beneficial for keeping SPS Corals being that it supplies them with a constant source trace elements. Also heard that Chaetomorpha grows like crazy in the presence of MM. ( I guess from the silica uptake). And with the right Skimmer and Media Reactor, MM is not an issue with the release of silicates and iron. This has been a 50/50 battle for years and years. I would like to hear from people that actually run MM or have tried MM. Not being Bias,but to the Naysayers that have not ever used MM, how can you comment? Being that im going bare bottom, I feel that the Microfauna need a place to live other than live rock. Am I wrong for thinking this?

The mud might help chaeto, possibly with iron, but chaeto doesn't use any silicate.

 

[ReefSTX]

Are there additional benefits from running a dsb/mud versus a barebottom refugium?

I am currently running a 100g display with 40g sump, both barebottom. Was thinking of going with either mud or dsb. The refugium currently houses chaeto (doing well), and two bio blocks. I am not using a sock at the moment, and run reverse lighting on the fuge.

Acros are doing alright, no rtn/stn although not thriving, the chalices and other softies seems to be growing the most. My nitrates and phosphates; No3:10-20, po4: undetecable - 0.025