Miracle mud worth it?
- Thread starter lumbeejerk
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beaslbob
2500 Club Member
NO!!!!!!!!!
A refugium full of macro algaes will do the same exact thing.
the sand itself was assayed a few years back and it tested to be common silica sand with higher then usual iron content.
IMHO you can do the same exact thing with play sand with a couple of ferris gluconate capsules added.
my .02
revhtree
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Never tried it myself. I trust in BOB! LOL!
CoralPets
New Member
I like it. I use it on my tank at home, and a couple maintenance tanks. For the maintenance tanks, they are fish only, and the algae grows like crazy. Keeps the nitrates usually at 0, sometimes 20. I do have good skimmers on the tanks too, but they don't pull much out. You need the extra silica and iron for the algae to grow. I usually recommend using a sodium vapor lamp. They have outside ones at the Lowe's here for $80.
For my tank at home, I like using it, because I don't always have enough time to maintain the system.
For my tank at home, I like using it, because I don't always have enough time to maintain the system.
FlyinBryan
Well-Known Member
I live miracle mudd!! I put a 6" dsb in my fuge and it totally turned my tank around!! Corals now thrive in my system!!! I met the inventor of it down at MACNA '13, nice guy!! I even have it in my 29 BC and its doing great!
JMSKI333
Valuable Member
I looked into it and I was not very impressed. It seems crazy expensive for what you get and you're suppose to replace 50% of it every year. No thank you. I'll just do a DSB in my fuge.
Fishtankery
New Member
Is this going to be a display style refugium?
In summary - Couple issues I see here:
Bio-balls arent a great long term or high quality solution.
The substrate depletion over a short time period. The mess and potential nitrate spike might be problematic depending on your system.
Very specialized sump without a lot of options other than this build. Sorta expensive for a fringe project idea.
If it were up to me, I'd just forgo the idea altogether and get a quality biopellet reactor and some BRS bio pellets. You'll end up spending roughly the same amount of cash, but have more predictable results with less work.
In summary - Couple issues I see here:
Bio-balls arent a great long term or high quality solution.
The substrate depletion over a short time period. The mess and potential nitrate spike might be problematic depending on your system.
Very specialized sump without a lot of options other than this build. Sorta expensive for a fringe project idea.
If it were up to me, I'd just forgo the idea altogether and get a quality biopellet reactor and some BRS bio pellets. You'll end up spending roughly the same amount of cash, but have more predictable results with less work.
OP
OP
lumbeejerk
Active Member
Thank u ill go the reactor route
Rjramos
Valuable Member
I've been using miracle mud for many years now, and I've had great success with it. I've ran it by itself growing Chaeto, and along with protein skimming. I believe Eco system aquarium recommends changing 50% every 1.5 years, I change 50% every 2 with no detrimental effects. The key to running a system with miracle mud IMO, is to follow Ecosystems recommended refugium capacity per display tanks capacity. And I'm not referring to volume of water of the refugium, but rather surface area of the bottom where the mud sits. Another crucial factor is the rate of water running through the refugium, can't be to slow, but it also can't be too fast. Detritus and waste needs to settle on the mud in order to process. Ecosystem aquarium gives you min and max flow through guidelines. It has many benefits including 1" vs.DSB which takes up a lot of space. In addition the taking up of nutrients,phosphates, and nitrates is great. I first used MM years ago when confronted with a hair algae problem that would not go away, no matter what I tried. I gave it a try and within 2 months the algae was gone! Nowgranted, I haven't tried other substrates for my refugium to compare and see if there's a difference, but MM has worked great for me, and every tank I've set up. My recommendation for anyone trying MM is to follow ecosystem aquariums guidelines, don't try to wing it your way.
Arjsmithy
New Member
FIJI MUD Is the Best...
I use Fiji Mud and I swear by it... 1 inch layer no sand and works great Chaeto and Red Mangroves in system and unlike Miracle Mud the Fiji Mud Doesn't have to be replaced once a year Miracle Mud has to be removed Fiji Mud I used a booster and Done... You stop all pump let the water clear and mud settle and clean and clear... DONE...
Happy Reefing..
I use Fiji Mud and I swear by it... 1 inch layer no sand and works great Chaeto and Red Mangroves in system and unlike Miracle Mud the Fiji Mud Doesn't have to be replaced once a year Miracle Mud has to be removed Fiji Mud I used a booster and Done... You stop all pump let the water clear and mud settle and clean and clear... DONE...
Happy Reefing..
OP
OP
lumbeejerk
Active Member
Bulkreef
Arjsmithy
New Member
You can get this stuff pretty much anyways even petco sells it.
www.bulkreefsupply.com/catalog/product/view/id/2812/
www.marinedepot.com/Fiji_Mud_Refugi...er_Aquariums-Walt_Smith-WS1115-FISSMD-vi.html
Wicky48
Active Member
Just ordered Miracle Mud for existing tank as a test. Building a new 200 gal and will try both this and the Fiji Mud to see what works best. Gonna try each on two different reef tanks I have now and compare results so I may post these once finished.
ryeguyy84
Well-Known Member
when I moved my tank the first thing I did was take the miracle mud out. I'm not sure if it worked or not but my tank looked great, so maybe but it was more hassle than it was worth IMO. I had it in a remote fuge so changing wasn't an issue but now I have a sump fuge and there's no way i'm pulling that out to slop up mud.
