Miracle mud without a refugium

[sushiboss]

Hello fellow reefers,

I stumbled upon this product and its ability to increase micro fauna reproduction rates etc and was wondering if it would be crazy to add to my sump without growing macro algae in it?

I basically am just interested in a slow release of trace minerals but more so to see life and more pods roaming around my tank.

So out of curiosity does anyone use miracle mud; and if so is it mandatory to grow macro algae while using it?

 

[*GAREEF*]

Hello fellow reefers,

I stumbled upon this product and its ability to increase micro fauna reproduction rates etc and was wondering if it would be crazy to add to my sump without growing macro algae in it?

I basically am just interested in a slow release of trace minerals but more so to see life and more pods roaming around my tank.

So out of curiosity does anyone use miracle mud; and if so is it mandatory to grow macro algae while using it?

You do not need to add macro algae.
If your going to use it be aware that it is easily disturbed and will make you water super cloudy and when disturbed.
There are many places you can buy copepods and amphipods, if that’s your end goal and they will survive just fine without miracle mud.

 

[sushiboss]

You do not need to add macro algae.
If your going to use it be aware that it is easily disturbed and will make you water super cloudy and when disturbed.
There are many places you can buy copepods and amphipods, if that’s your end goal and they will survive just fine without miracle mud.

Have you used the product?

Are there any benefits you’ve noticed?

My sump is super bare. Only a return pump and protein skimmer and some bags of seachem matrix just laying on the floor I used to seed the tank hahaha

Don’t really need a refugium as of yet as my nutrient levels are ideal in my opinion (17 nitrate and .14 phosphate) was just looking to spice things up and everyone commented that miracle grow caused explosions in micro fauna

 

[*GAREEF*]

Have you used the product?

Are there any benefits you’ve noticed?

My sump is super bare. Only a return pump and protein skimmer and some bags of seachem matrix just laying on the floor I used to seed the tank hahaha

Don’t really need a refugium as of yet as my nutrient levels are ideal in my opinion (17 nitrate and .14 phosphate) was just looking to spice things up and everyone commented that miracle grow caused explosions in micro fauna

I’ve used it many years ago in a 40 gallon refugium on a 120 gallon sps dominate tank.
I had so much growth in my sps it was off the chain. People were amazed.
The fugium was filled with pulsing Xenia and I had to remove handfuls of it almost every month.
I ran reverse light schedule and my ph was at an almost constant 8.4.
It was awesome!
The refugium had a 3 inch bed of fine to medium grade crushed coral and 5 lbs of miracle mud mixed in.

 

[sushiboss]

I’ve used it many years ago in a 40 gallon refugium on a 120 gallon sps dominate tank.
I had so much growth in my sps it was off the chain. People were amazed.
The fugium was filled with pulsing Xenia and I had to remove handfuls of it almost every month.
I ran reverse light schedule and my ph was at an almost constant 8.4.
It was awesome!

Do you think it’s a good idea or am I crazy? Haha

It seems like you had big benefits.

This is my tank for reference.

Close to a year old now but seeded with an older tank rock and various local rubble from others tanks and a the matrix I used from my personal tanks.

I’d reckon it’s pretty mature for only a year old due to the various different strains of bacteria I used to start the tank off.

 

[*GAREEF*]

Do you think it’s a good idea or am I crazy? Haha

It seems like you had big benefits.

This is my tank for reference.

Close to a year old now but seeded with an older tank rock and various local rubble from others tanks and a the matrix I used from my personal tanks.

I’d reckon it’s pretty mature for only a year old due to the various different strains of bacteria I used to start the tank off.

I edited my last post but I’ll say it here.
I had a three inch bed in the refugium, fine to medium grade crushed coral and 5 lbs of miracle mud mixed in.
Not sure if it was all the mud or not but I never added trace elements just used a two part,kalk and water changes weekly to monthly.
I fed the tank a lot too.
Probably a combination of everything. I had just got out of the army and my wife was in the air force at the time and we had to move. Somebody was in heaven when I had to sell it all. Two dudes drove from 4 hours away to buy it off me. They were shocked with what they got but when the military says move…. You move lol

 

[sushiboss]

I edited my last post but I’ll say it here.
I had a three inch bed in the refugium, fine to medium grade crushed coral and 5 lbs of miracle mud mixed in.
Not sure if it was all the mud or not but I never added trace elements just used a two part,kalk and water changes weekly to monthly.
I fed the tank a lot too.
Probably a combination of everything. I had just got out of the army and my wife was in the air force at the time and we had to move. Somebody was in heaven when I had to sell it all. Two dudes drove from 4 hours away to buy it off me. They were shocked with what they got but when the military says move…. You move lol

I’ve only ever done 2 water changes since the tanks been up and running. Never saw the need to as I’m nutrient low. I’ve been upping my feeding substantially as of 2 months ago my nitrates were 5 and steady. But I added another tang and increased feeding from 2 times daily to 4 with full sheets of nori daily.

Maybe I should just do a water change and see where that takes me but that’s another reason I was interested in the mud.

As I’m not really doing water changes it has the opportunity to release small trace elements that I could definitely benefit from.

What mud do you use?

 

[*GAREEF*]

I don’t use mud currently and haven’t since that tank which was many years ago.
The miracle mud came in a plastic container 5 lbs from what I remember and it was the only one on the market at the time. A lot of old school reefers used it and had turned me on to it.

 

[Fish Fan]

What mud do you use?

I've been following this thread, and to me Miracle Mud is, well..... Miracle Mud lol!

Meaning, it's a product. I had assumed you guys were talking about this stuff:

Miracle Mud Ecosystem Filter Media (5 lbs) - EcoSystem Aquarium

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

I have never used it, but I kind of thought it was a bit of a "fad" who's time had come and gone (since I don't hear many reefers talking about it anymore), but I'm tagging in here because I'm planning a new build with a display 'fuge, and would be interested to see if this Miracle Mud lives up to its name in today's aquaria.

 

[Subsea]

Hello fellow reefers,

I stumbled upon this product and its ability to increase micro fauna reproduction rates etc and was wondering if it would be crazy to add to my sump without growing macro algae in it?

I basically am just interested in a slow release of trace minerals but more so to see life and more pods roaming around my tank.

So out of curiosity does anyone use miracle mud; and if so is it mandatory to grow macro algae while using it?

My 25 year old system has miracle mud. I bought system used and operated a macro refugium on top of mud. I never changed mud. In 25 years, detritus accumulated 1/2”, it felt spongy to the touch and is crawling with worms & pods.

Five years ago, I removed seaweed, turned off the lights and added live rock on top of the mud.

While I can’t attest to all trace minerals, I can attest that it does have iron.

 

[*GAREEF*]

I've been following this thread, and to me Miracle Mud is, well..... Miracle Mud lol!

Meaning, it's a product. I had assumed you guys were talking about this stuff:

Miracle Mud Ecosystem Filter Media (5 lbs) - EcoSystem Aquarium

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

I have never used it, but I kind of thought it was a bit of a "fad" who's time had come and gone (since I don't hear many reefers talking about it anymore), but I'm tagging in here because I'm planning a new build with a display 'fuge, and would be interested to see if this Miracle Mud lives up to its name in today's aquaria.

From what I can remember it was called Fiji gold miracle mud.

 

[*GAREEF*]

I’ve only ever done 2 water changes since the tanks been up and running. Never saw the need to as I’m nutrient low. I’ve been upping my feeding substantially as of 2 months ago my nitrates were 5 and steady. But I added another tang and increased feeding from 2 times daily to 4 with full sheets of nori daily.

Maybe I should just do a water change and see where that takes me but that’s another reason I was interested in the mud.

As I’m not really doing water changes it has the opportunity to release small trace elements that I could definitely benefit from.

What mud do you use?

From what I can remember it was called Fiji gold miracle mud.

 

[Fish Fan]

From what I can remember it was called Fiji gold miracle mud.

That does ring a bell!

But still, I thought "Miracle Mud" was a thing like a product, not like "aragonite sand", for which there's many different brands, but all the same "stuff", more or less.

Thanks for you help!

 

[*GAREEF*]

That does ring a bell!

But still, I thought "Miracle Mud" was a thing like a product, not like "aragonite sand", for which there's many different brands, but all the same "stuff", more or less.

Thanks for you help!

You’re welcome and for what it’s worth it did not look like the product you posted. What you posted looks like it has fine gravel / crushed coral.
The product that I used looked like straight mud! lol

 

[Fish Fan]

You’re welcome and for what it’s worth it did not look like the product you posted. What you posted looks like it has fine gravel / crushed coral.
The product that I used looked like straight mud! lol

It could be that the product has change its appearance over the years, or it could be that I'm entirely nuts. I'll leave it to you guys to decide ;-)

 

[sushiboss]

From what I can remember it was called Fiji gold miracle mud.

Right on man!

Appreciate all the help!

I think I may give it a try

 

[*GAREEF*]

Right on man!

Appreciate all the help!

I think I may give it a try

I just looked on the internet and found it.
I know for sure because I now remember the name Walt Smith.

 

[Fish Fan]

I just looked on the internet and found it.
I know for sure because I now remember the name Walt Smith.

Yes! Walt Smith's was the one I was thinking about :-) Nice catch!

 

[*GAREEF*]

It could be that the product has change its appearance over the years, or it could be that I'm entirely nuts. I'll leave it to you guys to decide ;-)

I just looked on the internet and found it.
I know for sure because I now remember the name Walt Smith after seeing it.

Yes! Walt Smith's was the one I was thinking about :) Nice catch!

It was probably 17 years ago so maybe the formula has changed like you said but I definitely remember it now that it had the name Walt smith on it.

 

[Fish Fan]

I just looked on the internet and found it.
I know for sure because I now remember the name Walt Smith after seeing it.

Yes, Walt Smith's 'Miracle Mud' was the stuff I was remembering from the beginning of this thread. It's probably been about 17 years since I've seen or heard the stuff discussed (though I could just be missing it), so I guess it may or may not be the same as what I'm remembering. Thanks again for your help here!