Miracle Mud

[Zoa Junkie]

I'm planning out a set up for my sump and in my refugium section I was torn with putting live sand or miracle mud. I havnt seen too many reviews on miracle mud, so that kind of makes me think it's a bad thing. Have any of you used the product and can give me your insight. I plan on using about 5-10 lbs of it in my refugium, then add about 3 mangroves with my chaeto. Looking forward to hearing from you guys/gals to help me decide on what direction I should go for my refugium section of my sump. Thanks!

 

[revsgirl]

:bump:

 

[ReeferBean]

I used it for over a year and didn't really notice a difference in the health of my tank. I mean now over another year my tank looks just as good if not better than it did. Overall main reason I removed it was its pretty messy any time you mess around in the fuge etc. Dust cloud.

 

[Ike]

In this hobby, and life in general, I feel it's best to avoid products with the word miracle in the name of promo materials. It's more gimmick than science and can be very messy. IMO, skip any sort of substarte in a sump.

As for the mangroves... If yo thjink they look good then go for it. If you're growing them as a means of nutrient export, don't bother. They make virtually no impact on nutrient levels in the water as they draw most of their nutrients from soil.

 

[Otter_rs]

Miracle mud is nothing more than a granular ferric oxide soil. To keep its phosphate absorption properties you must replace it periodically. This can be messy and sometimes cause water quality problems. You can get the same benefits from a sugar grain coral sand and a GFO reactor without any of the hassle.


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[Zack]

So basically miracle mud is miracle dud!!

 

[Otter_rs]

Not necessarily. Just a different way to get a similar product. If used correctly, it works well, but in my opinion, it is easier to get the same results in other ways.


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[Ike]

Miracle mud is nothing more than a granular ferric oxide soil. To keep its phosphate absorption properties you must replace it periodically. This can be messy and sometimes cause water quality problems. You can get the same benefits from a sugar grain coral sand and a GFO reactor without any of the hassle.


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Actually, I believe analysis in the past has shown it to be primarily silica based sand. There is also an iron rich component, but I thought it was different from gfo and miracle mud will not lower phosphates to my knowledge. At least not unless they've changed the formula in recent years. Lastly, Miracle Mud doesn't seem to have any matterial in it that would lead one to believe it was ever anywhere near an ocean, reef, or even ancient and now dried up body of saltwater.

 

[Otter_rs]

Actually, I believe analysis in the past has shown it to be primarily silica based sand. There is also an iron rich component, but I thought it was different from gfo and miracle mud will not lower phosphates to my knowledge. At least not unless they've changed the formula in recent years. Lastly, Miracle Mud doesn't seem to have any matterial in it that would lead one to believe it was ever anywhere near an ocean, reef, or even ancient and now dried up body of saltwater.

Not sure what analysis you speak of. I would like to see who did it and when it was done. Not surprised about the silica, and I know the mix was not natural. As for the iron substance, yes it is not the same as GFO, but is is supposed to have similar phosphate absorption properties. I think it might be more clay based. Can't really remember. The last time I knew anyone using it was back in 2005.


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[Otter_rs]

The fact that I called it a granular ferric oxide soil was to generalize its usage not its exact contents. I never got around to picking it apart and finding out its exact contents, but I do remember speaking to a few people who said they had. Although I trust their judgement, I can't say I ever saw the breakdown.


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[fragmatic]

So basically miracle mud is miracle dud!!

No, not really, it worked well for me for a few years. BUT, I had in my sump, I got tired of not being able to touch anything in the sump without clouding my whole tank for several hours.

 

[Ike]

Not sure what analysis you speak of. I would like to see who did it and when it was done. Not surprised about the silica, and I know the mix was not natural. As for the iron substance, yes it is not the same as GFO, but is is supposed to have similar phosphate absorption properties. I think it might be more clay based. Can't really remember. The last time I knew anyone using it was back in 2005.


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Looks like it was quartz and not silica. Also, I don't think the high iron content will have the same phosphate lowering effects as gfo.


http://www.reefs.org/library/article/mm_analysis.html

http://www.reefs.org/forums/topic3964.html

 

[Otter_rs]

Thanks Ike for the link. Interesting. Doesn't state the form in which the iron is in though. So hard to say if it may or may not have the phosphate absorption properties of which I was informed. I always thought that the idea of phosphate absorption in a substrate was kinda worthless either way when compared to a reactor. And what's with the Aluminum? I wouldn't think Aluminum would be a good thing at all.


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