JoJo's No Funny Business Office Tank Thread

VintageReefer

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Color in the “non blue” pics isn’t accurate. It’s really nice in person and crisp.

No lens filter = wrong
Lens filter = pinkish

Didn’t have time to break out the other filters and mess around.

Blue pics look accurate to real life viewing
 
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JoJosReef

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CategoryStatusAction Items
Tank/Stand/Sump/PlumbingYE-AH!Need a base, either acrylic or glass or something else + second leveling mat; also brace supports inside of tank; also drill hole for power cables; also decide whether to add a bottom eurobrace...
Return pumpYE-AH!
ATO/ReservoirYE-AH!
4x Noopsyche MinisYE-AH!Win a 5th light
Light mountNOPERecheck measurements, order
LidORDEREDWait for it
Hydros + sense devicesYE-AH!Start programming
Control boardORDEREDDesign, assemble; order GFCI adapters and surge protectors
Dosing containerYE-AH!Solder wires for Hydros float switch
Steel panYE-AH!
Glass or acrylic support pedestal + leveling matNOPERidiculously expensive. Rethink how to make this support.
Glass sump weir wallPICKED UPSilicone it in place
Sump weir wall vinyl blackout filmORDEREDGet heat gun to adhere to glass
Sump cryptic refugium shadeORDEREDGet clamps and straight edge, cut
Transfer buckets, 27gal tubs x 4YE-AH!
100 gal saltwater5/100galMake more, slacker
SandYE-AH!Start seeding with Fiji Mud
MP40 Nem GuardYE-AH!
Overflow strainerYE-AH!sand nozzle
Power stripNOPEOrder 2x GFCI adapters and 2x surge protector strips
 

VintageReefer

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Why did you chose AF Fiji Mud over Miracle mud? I read somewhere that there is magnetic material in the Fiji mud that can mess with your pumps. I personally have not tried it. But I use the Miracle Mud in my tanks.
I added refugite to my sump a few months ago. It’s claimed to leach trace elements like manganese and is supposedly good for goniopora and macroalgae. It’s not mud but instead live refugium substrate. It’s gravel/pebble size. Unlike live sand packaging, I was impressed by the amount of water that was included in the bag to keep it all submerged and (hopefully) live
 
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JoJosReef

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Why did you chose AF Fiji Mud over Miracle mud? I read somewhere that there is magnetic material in the Fiji mud that can mess with your pumps. I personally have not tried it. But I use the Miracle Mud in my tanks.
AF has all the good nasty stuff in it--bacteria, bristleworm eggs, etc. Miracle Mud is sort of a synthetic blend.

AF definitely has magnetic particles in it. I mix the mud in a tupper with the OctoAquatics acclimation box magnet sitting under it. That thing could pull the iron out of your blood. Immobilizes all the magnetic particles. Then just dump the dirty water into the tank.
 

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AF has all the good nasty stuff in it--bacteria, bristleworm eggs, etc. Miracle Mud is sort of a synthetic blend.

AF definitely has magnetic particles in it. I mix the mud in a tupper with the OctoAquatics acclimation box magnet sitting under it. That thing could pull the iron out of your blood. Immobilizes all the magnetic particles. Then just dump the dirty water into the tank.
I haven’t heard of the synthetic aspect of miracle mud, I thought it was sourced from the bases of mangrove trees or something like that.
 
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JoJosReef

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I haven’t heard of the synthetic aspect of miracle mud, I thought it was sourced from the bases of mangrove trees or something like that.
Yup, I spoke erroneously. Is this the same that you are using?
If so, it isn't "synthetic" at least 80% of it appears to be real mud that has just been dried out and makes up the susbstrate while the remaining 20% "synthetic" part is minerals and trace elements (which isn't "synthesized" at all, so that's also incorrect).

Overall, looks like a highly beneficial substrate, but I imagine the drying out procedure kills off the bulk of the microfauna found in Fiji Mud, but perhaps bacteria stick around.I must have read/misunderstood someone's post early on when researching substrates that led me to think it wasn't derived from ocean mud.
 

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Yup, I spoke erroneously. Is this the same that you are using?
If so, it isn't "synthetic" at least 80% of it appears to be real mud that has just been dried out and makes up the susbstrate while the remaining 20% "synthetic" part is minerals and trace elements (which isn't "synthesized" at all, so that's also incorrect).

Overall, looks like a highly beneficial substrate, but I imagine the drying out procedure kills off the bulk of the microfauna found in Fiji Mud, but perhaps bacteria stick around.I must have read/misunderstood someone's post early on when researching substrates that led me to think it wasn't derived from ocean mud.
See post 9, 14, 15

 

VintageReefer

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See post 7 and 9

I will be using this on my new build. Same method - in a bag.

 
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JoJosReef

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Found the af mud also helps with battling some dinos. Fwiw
First thing I do when I see dinos. Then check which kind and if ostreopsis or prorocentrum, I run UV.
 

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Yup, I spoke erroneously. Is this the same that you are using?
If so, it isn't "synthetic" at least 80% of it appears to be real mud that has just been dried out and makes up the susbstrate while the remaining 20% "synthetic" part is minerals and trace elements (which isn't "synthesized" at all, so that's also incorrect).

Overall, looks like a highly beneficial substrate, but I imagine the drying out procedure kills off the bulk of the microfauna found in Fiji Mud, but perhaps bacteria stick around.I must have read/misunderstood someone's post early on when researching substrates that led me to think it wasn't derived from ocean mud.
Yes, this is the stuff I am using.
On a side note, When I first started with marine aquaria in 1989 in southern Illinois, HLLE was not a thing. I had tangs, I used cheap carbon, live rock from Hawaii and treated tap water. I wasn’t until I moved back to the Chicago area after school that I started to see it. I always thought it was a missing element thing, but there is some research that it is from carbon files ( @Jay Hemdal ). In southern Illinois, it is coined "Little Egypt" because during dust bowl times, it was one of the few places that was able to produce crops. A place that several rivers meet, bringing rich soil filled with elements. These elements which find themselves into the ground water, I always felt it was the reason I never saw HLLE while I lived there. One of the claims that Miracle Mud says is that it can reverse HLLE. A claim that has been confirmed anecdotally by others. So this is the reason why I use this product. Because I do not have any tangs that I rescued from big box stores that already had HLLE and were barely a inch and a half. Plus I have seen exceptional PE from my corals. I know this is not the whole picture, but part of the picture with my success. My whole philosophy of a successful tank is repeating nature as best I can.
As far as your purpose to use the fiji mud is to add biome, which I think is very important. I do that in other ways but always looking for diversity. I like the way you address the magnetic issue, because pumps are too expensive to ruin.
 
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Jay Hemdal

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Yes, this is the stuff I am using.
On a side note, When I first started with marine aquaria in 1989 in southern Illinois, HLLE was not a thing. I had tangs, I used cheap carbon, live rock from Hawaii and treated tap water. I wasn’t until I moved back to the Chicago area after school that I started to see it. I always thought it was a missing element thing, but there is some research that it is from carbon files ( @Jay Hemdal ). In southern Illinois, it is coined "Little Egypt" because during dust bowl times, it was one of the few places that was able to produce crops. A place that several rivers meet, bringing rich soil filled with elements. These elements which find themselves into the ground water, I always felt it was the reason I never saw HLLE while I lived there. One of the claims that Miracle Mud says is that it can reverse HLLE. A claim that has been confirmed anecdotally by others. So this is the reason why I use this product. Because I do not have any tangs that I rescued from big box stores that already had HLLE and where barely a inch and a half. Plus I have seen exceptional PE from my corals. I know this is not the whole picture, but part of the picture with my success. My whole philosophy of a successful tank is repeating nature as best I can.
As far as your purpose to use the fiji mud is to add biome, which I think is very important. I do that in other ways but always looking for diversity. I like the way you address the magnetic issue, because pumps are too expensive to ruin.

I've heard that also about "miracle mud". However, I never tested it to see if the reports were actually cause and effect, or just anecdotes. I do know that HLLE is less commonly seen in aquariums with good foam fractionation, as well as reef aquariums that have low particulate organic carbon due to micron filtration, or filter feeding invertebrates. Perhaps Miracle Mud acts as some sort of settling agent for carbon fines?
 
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JoJosReef

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Weekly goals:
1. Make 50 gal of Saltwater
2. Start seeding sand/rock in tub
3. Order T slots for mounting lights and bracing stand
4. Figure out what to do with support between stand and tank
5. Silicone the refugium weir wall
6. Cut plexiglass cryptic refugium lid
7. Order electrical stuff
8. Clean the glass
9. Kill aiptasia
10. Check ALK
11. Figure out whether/how to bottom eurobrace tank
12. Find time

Have a good week everyone!
See Ya Kiss GIF by Sesame Street
 

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JoJosReef

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Coming along at a snail's pace

CategoryStatusAction Items
Tank/Stand/Sump/PlumbingYE-AH!Need a base, either acrylic or glass or something else + second leveling mat; also brace supports inside of tank; also drill hole for power cables; also decide whether to add a bottom eurobrace...
Return pumpYE-AH!
ATO/ReservoirYE-AH!
4x Noopsyche MinisYE-AH!Maybe order a 5th light...
Light mountNOPERecheck measurements, order
LidORDEREDWait for it
Hydros + sense devicesYE-AH!Start programming
Control boardYE-AH!Fasten things to the board!
Dosing containerYE-AH!Solder wires for Hydros float switch
Steel panYE-AH!
Glass or acrylic support pedestal + leveling matNOPERidiculously expensive. Rethink how to make this support.
Glass sump weir wallYE-AH!Silicone it in place
Sump weir wall vinyl blackout filmYE-AH!Get heat gun to adhere to glass
Sump cryptic refugium shadeYE-AH!Cut and glue
Transfer buckets, 27gal tubs x 4YE-AH!
100 gal saltwater15/100galMake more, slacker
SandYE-AH!Start seeding with Fiji Mud
MP40 Nem GuardYE-AH!Test fit
Overflow strainerYE-AH!sand nozzle
Power stripNOPEOrder 2x GFCI adapters and 2x surge protector strips
SandYE-AH!Start seeding with Fiji Mud
RocksYE-AH!Start seeding with Fiji Mud
Refugium pumpNOPEOrder a powerhead; current mixing powerhead is starting to rust
 

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