Implied benefits of Miracle Mud 10/8/03
I was wondering what your thoughts are regarding the implied benefits of miracle mud as compared to a deep sand bed in a refugium.   It has been stated that among the benefits are reduction or elimination of HLLE in some fish as well as the bleed off of compounds such as iodine.  Is it truly as good as it has been made out to be or just a bunch of hype. Thanks in
advance.  Terry
<I believe that the fundamental notion of using mud as a nutritive substrate has merit and benefits. However, the long-standing history of fabulous if not incredulous marketing claims for this product line are embarrassing to me for our trade. I can assure you that you will get many benefits from a simple aragonite sand DSB in kind... without claims of it curing  diseases miraculously, sparing you the need to ever do water changes or use a skimmer... or feed a small country. Both simply work at face value and can be employed successfully. Anthony>

Algae Control And Miracle Mud - 07/18/2006
Good evening fishy folk.
<Good evening, Dave.>
I've recently setup sump w/ liverock filtration for my 90 gallon tank. The sump is about 35 gallons and I've had it equipped with a refugium. I have approximately 16x water flow in my tank, I have a blue florescent bulb for lighting 10hrs a day, and I only feed my critters about 4 or 5 times a week, yet I still get hints of Cyanobacteria. My first question.  
<Excess nutrients in the tank....>
Would Caulerpa in my refugium be the next best step to fight Cyano???  The Caulerpa would take a lot of the algae feeding nutrients out of my main system, correct?
<Could help, but could also cause problems.  Better to try Chaetomorpha first, in my opinion.>
Second question.  I bought 10lbs of "Ecosystem Miracle Mud" for my refugium and I have been advised that I should have closer to 20lbs for the size of tank I have.  Are you familiar with this product?
<Yes.>
Am I getting ripped off on this? Is it simply.... dirt?  
<I've met Leng Sy, and liked the things he had to say.  Many folks swear by his mud and many say it's nothing great.  I've not used it, so have no firsthand experience.>
Is there anything else that doesn't cost $10/lb that would be beneficial with Caulerpa to help reduce nutrients that this Cyano is obviously feeding off of?
<Do please read here:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/algaeasfriend.htm and here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm and all the algae articles listed here:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marinvind1.htm .>
Last question: if I were to use this Miracle Mud, I'd drain my sump as much as possible, at least the refugium chamber.  I'd put the mud in the chamber and fill the chamber with premixed salt water, scooping away any floaties left over.  When I turn my sump pump back on, I realize there will be a little discoloration in the water.  In your opinion, would there be any risk of drastic water chemistry changes from having the Miracle Mud in my sump?  
<Mm, possibly....  best not to make sudden/major changes, if possible.  I'd go with this plan, and just keep a close eye on things.>
Would the pH be harmfully affected?  
<As long as your tank is of an appropriate pH and hardness to begin with, you should be okay.>
I just don't want to lose my two clowns and goby. the shrimp, starfish, and crabs. Your advice??
<Mostly just to read more about algae! :grin: >
Thanks a million! Dave
<Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Algae Control And Miracle Mud - II - 07/25/2006
Ya know what makes this hobby so much fun.... ummm... ha... ha.... ha... ha...    Is that you can read 10 different opinions... and get 10 different answers.  
<True enough!>
It kinda seems like LOOSE GUIDANCE to ensure you don't do anything stupid... but really, it's yourself that's gonna find the answer.  
<Ultimately....  yeah.>
I find the only way to fight Cyano is water flow, but how can someone possibly hit every angle of their liverock with sufficient water flow without stocking your tank with powerheads.   
<Closed loop?>
I have a pump that creates 800gph, a MaxiJet 900, and two 1200's.  16X tank flow rate should be sufficient, right?  
<Perhaps.  There are other means aside from water flow alone to control this nuisance....  and I think you are (were?  will be?) pursuing them.>
My typical water tests are to ensure constant salinity and temperature. Then I do a monthly (or more frequent if needed) pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate test.  Are there any other tests that would be beneficial for me to monitor??  
<Phosphate, calcium, carbonate hardness, general hardness.... iodine perhaps....>
I am not keeping corals... at least not yet.  Aside from that, I am doing 20% water changes semi-monthly.  Anything noticeably insane in my practices?  
<Not particularly.>
Any suggested improvements from what I have said?  
<Maybe that you test phosphate, and try to ensure that your water is coming from a very pure source....  Preferably from a RO/DI unit http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_2/cav2i4/RO_systems/reverse_osmosis.htm or other such purification means.  This will help tremendously with your algae battles.>
I also am using a deep livesand bed (about 4" across the majority of the tank).  I head something about using NO sandbed or at least one under 1" if I am using the Miracle Mud.  I dunno, sounds kinda strange to me.  
<Me too.>
Any biological reason for disaster if I keep my deep sand bed and the Miracle Mud?  
<Nah, not that I can see.>
I want the deep sandbed so that I can keep a couple of Jawfish in the near future.  Thanks again for all your help... could you sense the frustration in my first paragraph??  
<Having experienced the same frustration myself, yes.  ::grin:: >
I'm finally buying Bob's book!  So next time he has a drink, tell him I paid for it... sorta.  
<Heh!>
Your fishy friend always...  
Dave
P.S.  Just got back from the French Polynesia scuba diving (well actually it was my honeymoon... but the scuba diving was more exciting... shhh... don't tell).
<Um, WOW.  Nope, I won't tell.>
Those 12 foot lemon sharks look more cute and cuddly in pictures.  I was going to attach the picture of the one behind me while I was 70ft down... but the brown cloud (wetsuit my @$$) behind me was a little embarrassing JK!
<Heh!  Sounds like you had a great time.  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>   

Re: Sump Setup?  12/13/06
Good Day to you Tim.
<And to you!>
Well I am not Norwegian by birth I Have only been in the country for 5 years. I live in Horten, which is about an hour and a  half south of Oslo.
Well the main reason that I want to get a sump up and going is to work at getting rid of nitrates.
I have heard a lot about this miracle mud that people use in a sump, (more horror stories than anything else) is there any other filters, reactors, or such like that I should get? or that you can recommend?
<The miracle mud works by encouraging the growth of macro algae in the sump. You can grow macro algae in your tank for nitrate export without the use of miracle mud which, as you note, is the subject of much debate. You should also consider the use of a DSB - much info on this on the website - as a means of reducing your nitrates. Lastly, you could consider purchasing a sulphur (or other type of) denitrator to reduce your nitrate problems. An excellent denitrator is produced by Korallin, though it is by no means cheap. I would suggest you use the tank you previously suggested with a strong 24hr light, have a DSB in this sump and grow macroalgae. This is the most natural and best way of eliminating nitrate problems and, depending on the what is in your main tank, may also act as a beneficial refugium where you can grow food for tangs or copepods for fish such as the mandarin dragonet. Any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Hilsen, Tim>
Tusen Hjertlig takk for hjelpen Tim
Clinton

Deep Mud Bed for NNR...Yes   2/25/07
Quick question.  Could a deep mud bed help with NNR as effectively as a DSB.  
<Both deep sand beds and deep mud beds can successful reduce nitrates to zero more here:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nitratesmar.htm and here http://www.wetwebmedia.com/mudfiltrfaqs.htm also links in blue at top of pages.>
If the answer is no, my follow up question is why not.  Thanks a million.
<Welcome!  -Mich>
Ari

Shaving Brush Substrate  2/28/07
<Hi Brandon!  Mich here.>
Just a quick question, I am getting ready to add a hang on refugium to my 65 gal reef aquarium.  
<Excellent!>
I have really been considering using mineral mud (about 4 inches), and livestock being Chaetomorpha algae, live rock, and a shaving brush plant.  This brings me to my question, will the mud substrate suit the brush plant?
<Yes.>
Am I just better to avoid adding this species all together due to the fact I will have the Chaetomorpha?  
<Can try both.>
My main goal is to harvest pods for my Mandarin and add biological filtration.  
<Chaetomorpha is the most important here.>
Your help is greatly appreciated, this site is unbelievable in the amount of knowledge is supplies everyone.  
<Thank you for the kind words.>
Keep up the fantastic work.
<Will try!  -Mich>
Brendan