miracle mud...... Thoughts?

twintrades · Feb 23, 2014

I have a 29 i set up for seahorses. Its going to have macros/softys and gorgonians.

Would it be worth it to have a HOB finnex type refugium with this in it? Or is it more like snake oil?

What are the benefits if any for having this?

Whys Alives · Feb 24, 2014

Snake oil. While there is an argument to be made that miracle mud can be beneficial to mangroves (or any other rooted aquatic plant), few hobbyists have any interest in growing mangroves these days, nor would maximizing your mangrove health necessarily be of any greater benefit to your biotope.

You money would be better spent elsewhere.

TriggerThis · Feb 24, 2014

Lots of people that have used it have seen positive results from their livestock and overall tank health. And in the end if you don't need any more equipment or supplements, spending the cash and trying it out can only improve your tank.
However don't buy it expecting it to miracle fix some horrific problem to your tank.

Whys Alives · Feb 24, 2014

TriggerThis said:
Lots of people that have used it have seen positive results from their livestock and overall tank health.

Please point me to one.

icsparks · Feb 24, 2014

Just one it is "Mike Paletta"

ReeferEric · Feb 24, 2014

People still buy this stuff? LOL.

twintrades · Feb 24, 2014

LOL i havent bought it. I was just wondering what the miracle was in the mud.... ( after dropping some coin on it)

Ill prolly just skip it then. I was looking for somthing that would release (good stuff) into the water. But if its just wet mud lol No thanks.

Whys Alives · Feb 24, 2014

What is the supposed cause of said benefit? Is it adding something not otherwise present in my aquarium water? Unless the makers of mud have secretly discovered some previously unknown atom that doesn't yet appear on the periodic table, then the makers of my saltmix are already adding everything I need. The elements and their amounts present in natural sea water is no great mystery. So is it an indirect benefit such as specialized micro organisms that only live in mud? Please state the organisms and how they benefit my biotope. What does mud support that liverock and livesand do not?

What is particularly telling is that the makers of this product have no answer to these questions. They simply claim it's a miracle.

What you really need to do is carry one of these:

That way, whenever something good seems to happen... you'll always know why.

twintrades · Feb 25, 2014

Hahaha ! So true. Im not going with the mud it was just a thought. And yep my thoughts were on point not worth it!

wrasseluver · Feb 25, 2014

Real miracle mud works if it set up properly. The main purpose of the MM is denitrification. It's not snake oil because I've seen it in work with many local members. The guy who invented it hasn't done a good job with marketing and most lfs don't take time to speak to him or read up on how to set it properly and they say it doesn't work. This happen to be a few years ago and I thought it was crap but after some reading and seeing tanks setup with MM I now know it does work.

kuansreef · Feb 25, 2014

I have used it for over 2 years in my sump. I would Never use it again. Look like a nitrate factory to me.

icsparks · Feb 25, 2014

Clear as Mud, or not.
Well I will give it a try when I set up my 155. It may be just all hogwash for all I know at this point. But I’m not alone in this gimmick world. Millions of people spend lots of money on snake oil every day, Just look at the so called diet pills, health foods, aquarium additives and just about everything else under the sun that claim to be the “miracle product”. I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m guilty at trying something that’s just a little too good to be true. Anyway I’ll keep you all posted on the results as the tank matures. The link below was written by Mike Paletta in February of 2000, and as far as I know Mike is still using Miracle Mud in his systems today. http://358ban29ceos4uuc3vp5yqn31.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/images/stories/PDF/The EcoSystem Aquarium_Revisited_checking_after_2_years.pdf

duke62 · Feb 25, 2014

So if you want to try miracle mud do you add mud based on how big your total water volume is or just the size of your fuge? Also to add it to a new system how do you add it little at a time or all at once and do you need to rinse it. Sorry for hijack I was interested in trying it

MadCityReefer · Feb 25, 2014

I came across some for a really really good deal from a lfs and even though it claims you need to use a protein skimmer I don't think I would personally go that far with it. The biggest difference I saw was the increase growth of my micro algea in my refugium. Would I use it again yes and no, if could purchase it dirt cheap literary then yes I saw no harm from it

icsparks · Feb 25, 2014

It will take about 10lbs to cover 1 sq foot of area in the fuge for a thickness of about 1". I am going to presoak the mud in buckets and skimm off the excess nasty muddy water before adding it to the fuge just like Mike shows in his videos. look for his videos on youtube on setting up a 70 gal tank.

xthunderx · Feb 25, 2014

I've used it and gone without, no noticeable difference.

icsparks · Feb 25, 2014

My tank will have a shallow sand bed, +1 skimmer, carbon and GFO reactors just like most other setups. I will still do 20% water changes every two weeks. I am only going to try the mud for the benefits that he talked about such as coral growth and color. I would almost bet that he isn't quite sure exactly what’s in it but likes the results he is getting with his fish and corals and goes with what works for him. Others are completely successful without it. To each his own.