Need advice...

[Aquattro]

I have a bucket of about 30 pounds of miricle mud that needs to be cleaned. Has anyone got any good ideas on how to clean this stuff without it washing away, or should I wash it at all?

[BCOrchidGuy]

The way I see it you have two choices, either let fresh water flow SLOWLY through and over flow the bucket or try rinsing it in really small batches through a bbs net....... You could find one of those plastic coffee filter things that replace the paper filters I read that the openings are tiny, measured in microns... or just use a paper coffee filter... so I guess you have 4 choices from what I can figure.

[christyf5]

Needs to be cleaned how??
I would suggest rinsing it in a large garbage can. Put sand in, put water in, stir, let settle a bit, then pour out. Do this a couple of times. You don't need a ton of water (ie. massive salt usage, or you could use freshwater) but you basically just want to dilute any grossness that is in there, right?

Christy

[Aquattro]

Right. It came from a sump that was shut down some time ago, and I think it needs to be cleaned. It also needs to be sold, but we'll work on that after cleaning :-)

[ranz]

I would say your damed if you do and damed if you dont, I sugest a closed system(bucket and filter) and use oh natural filter, Diatom powder filter.

Im just guessing but I think the worst thing that would happen is that the mud would plug the filter pad, and if thats the case us a higher bucket and siphon from a higher point, this might allow the heavier sediment to fall and impurites to be filtered....

Maybe maybe not, anyways good luck!

Ranzreef

[MitchM]

I would say leave it and sell it as is. I have some too, that's been sitting in an old tank of mine that I'm starting up again, and I plan on adding new water and letting it cycle on it's own. Any junk in there would just be food for bacteria, which is a good thing.
I doubt whether you could ever effectively "clean" mud.

Just call it "uncured".

Mitch

[BCOrchidGuy]

Yeah if it is just sitting sell it as is or use it as is in a new tank....30 pounds is alot, any idea what you are going to ask for it? and will you sell smaller quantities?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by BCOrchidGuy

30 pounds is alot, any idea what you are going to ask for it? and will you sell smaller quantities?

nope, no idea at all. I got it as part of a tank setup I just picked up. I'd take offers and smaller amounts would be fine as long as there is a minimum..don't want to sell it by the cup :P When I get a better idea, I'll post it in the right forum.

[BCOrchidGuy]

Sounds good, if it is Miracle mud it is worth a fortune you may be able to retire off it, If it is mineral mud.... keep buying lotto tickets.

[Aquattro]

No, it's the real Miracle Mud from Ecosystems. It was originally ~$350, so I doubt I'll retire anytime soon. Some lucky soul could certainly get a deal on it if they wanted a bucket of mud.