miracle mud

RuGlu6 · #1 10-05-2009, 03:07 AM

Stay away from any product that has "Miracle" on the lable.

burtonboy · #2 10-05-2009, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RuGlu6

Stay away from any product that has "Miracle" on the lable.

Ya i think your right lol. Just going to go with the DSB instead.

Thanks daniel

globaldesigns · #3 10-05-2009, 05:40 AM

I was going to do the mircale mud thing in my refuge, but chose the deep sand bed, so I did 6-8 inches in the refuge with 2 different layers of different sized arragonite and this added a bit of live arragonite to the top... Over time I also now have about 50 or so lbs of live rock in there with it and can say I am glad I went that route.

Lance · #4 10-05-2009, 04:38 PM

Miracle Mud is very popular in Europe, particularly Germany. Not so much over here. Maybe they know something we don't?

BlueAbyss · #5 10-05-2009, 04:55 PM

I have read that the iron content in these products seems to get depleted in a year or two, rendering the 'mud' relatively useless. A DSB and iron dosing would seem to be a better, more permanent option (though if you're going to dose with iron, be aware that the test kits are terribly inaccurate, and you'd be best to keep a close eye on your livestock and algaes).

Oceanic · #6 10-05-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance

Miracle Mud is very popular in Europe, particularly Germany. Not so much over here. Maybe they know something we don't?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance

Miracle Mud is very popular in Europe, particularly Germany. Not so much over here. Maybe they know something we don't?

Miracle mud works although there is nothing that is a miracle about it. I actually use the Walt smith Fiji Gold in my refugium simply because it harbors critters that you don't see in a DSB or even a SSB. I notice that I get more pods and better macro growth with it. If I lightly stir the mud I notice huge polyp extension with the SPS in my tank in a matter of minutes.

You couldn't pay me enough to install DSB, I don't recommend ever using one as they are a ticking time bomb, I know this from personal experience and from doing lots of reading. DSB's work great for a few months or years but then become super saturated and or maxed out. If you do use one make sure you set it up as a remote DSB so you can change it out whenever you want or when you notice it isn't working anymore.

Once the bed is super saturated and or clogged it tends to release the built up nutrients back into the water column. The most success I ever had using a sand bed (currently bare bottom) was by employing a Plenum. You can research Plenums by checking out the GARF website or just doing a simple search.

One of the most successful long term reefs I have read about actually uses a revers flow under gravel filter system, the reef has been going strong for 37 years.

I simply use a bare bottom display now with a small remote mud refugium for pods, skim heavy, and use Zeovit, the tank seems very healthy.

Just my 2 cents.....

BC Mosaic · #7 10-05-2009, 06:37 PM

Ian,
have you got any photos of your "small remote mud refugium"? I don't recall seeing it. It does sound interesting - especially the harbouring of various small critters. Hmmmm

Oceanic · #8 10-05-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC Mosaic

Ian,
have you got any photos of your "small remote mud refugium"? I don't recall seeing it. It does sound interesting - especially the harbouring of various small critters. Hmmmm

Richard,

You have not seen it yet, I have only had it set up for a couple months. I bought a CPR HOB refugium and loaded it with Fiji Gold and Macroaglae, the pod production is insane. The macro does not grow very well due to the Zeovit and lack of nutrients but it still provides a great home for all of the critters.

When you come over next I will give you another tour!

RuGlu6 · #9 10-31-2009, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oceanic

You couldn't pay me enough to install DSB, I don't recommend ever using one as they are a ticking time bomb, I know this from personal experience and from doing lots of reading. DSB's work great for a few months or years but then become super saturated and or maxed out. If you do use one make sure you set it up as a remote DSB so you can change it out whenever you want or when you notice it isn't working anymore.

Just my 2 cents.....

they are a ticking time bomb
x2 !

Bryan · #10 10-31-2009, 10:22 AM

If you want to go the route of a DSB look up remote DSB, basically a DSB in a bucket that you can change out when it becomes loaded.