refugium substrate? mud or sand

althea2you · 12-19-2007, 08:11 PM

which do you prefer? i have heard of people using a "mud" dont know what kind or the name... and then live sand...

we are going to be starting the build of my refugium on the 90g and was curious as to what was better. thanks!

BigAl07 · 12-19-2007, 08:42 PM

Miracle Mud is possibly what you're talking about. I've thought about using it myself but haven't yet. My current fuge is shallow sand with some Lr Rubble in there for future fragging.

Frankie · 12-19-2007, 08:44 PM

I use mineral mud in my refugium for my mangrove. It is growing well. Better then when i used miracle mud in the past.

BigAl07 · 12-19-2007, 10:04 PM

Frank has MM changed or what would you account for the better growth?

tbittner · 12-19-2007, 11:46 PM

I use miracle mud and a DSB. To be honest, I don't know that it provides any benefits as I don't have any way to measure trace elements nor can I determine if it's coming from the mud or from the IO salt mixture I'm using.

The only thing that I can go by is what Kent Marine has in their advertisement about it. I'm getting good growth in my tank, everyone looks healthy, but like I said, I can't say that that is because of the miracle mud.

Frankie · 12-21-2007, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAl07

Frank has MM changed or what would you account for the better growth?

Its been around for a while Al. It is made by CaribSea.
"Mineral Mud is a unique blend of sediments that duplicate tropical fringing coastal mangrove environments. Mineral Mud is in a size range compatible with soft, burrowing infaunal, macro animal assemblages. Ideal for mud refugiums, seagrasses, macro-algaes, and mangroves, Mineral Mud provides a variety of trace elements, chelated trace elements, natural bio-available Iodine plus Calcium, Strontium, Iron, and free Carbon. In addition, Mineral Mud contains live marine bacteria, to complete the tropical ecosystem."
Thats what it says on the container. Whatever their claims, I see my mangrove has tripled in size since i planted it in the mud. Miracle Mud was too loose for my refugium. I used it in a previous refugium i had and remembered that fact. When my mangrove this time was not doing so well I went to get some Miracle Mud and saw this stuff. I like it!

Reefcraze_1 · 12-28-2007, 07:04 PM

i use a 7" live sand bed with my mangroves. The sand is carib sea arga alive special grade reef sand.

dobejazz · 12-28-2007, 07:17 PM

I have the miracle mud in my sump - it's been 2 years now (I did NOT follow the directions and switch out 1/2 of it yet)
It worked well for the first year or so but lately I have been getting a huge build up of film algae in the display daily (which is a huge PIA on an acrylic tank). I'm going to remove it all and try a bare bottom sump w/ cheato for a while and see of that works better

lcstorc · 12-28-2007, 07:33 PM

Arragonite sand for me.

DrHank · 12-28-2007, 07:51 PM

Sand here!

althea2you · 01-03-2008, 10:17 AM

thanks everyone... i think i am definitely going with sand!

i wasnt too confident with the mud anyways...

Rcpilot · 01-03-2008, 06:11 PM

Reef sand for mine. About 5-6" deep. And a hunk of cheato the size of a volleyball.

ZERO nitrates.

Tru2nr · 01-07-2008, 08:04 PM

ok so you guys would suggest going with mineral mud over miracle mud? i gotta order mineral mud rather then use the miracle mud i can get from the lfs(well not so local but the only place ill ever buy fish or corals lol)

tbittner · 01-07-2008, 09:25 PM

I used miracle mud in my fuge and I don't have any issues. I don't know that there is a real difference between the two besides the price.

12-19-2007, 08:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
althea2you Padawan Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,424 View Gallery Karma Komment	refugium substrate? mud or sand which do you prefer? i have heard of people using a "mud" dont know what kind or the name... and then live sand... we are going to be starting the build of my refugium on the 90g and was curious as to what was better. thanks! __________________ ~Sarah~ How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours. ~Wayne Dyer 28g Nano The 90 Gallon

12-19-2007, 08:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 10,613 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: refugium substrate? mud or sand Miracle Mud is possibly what you're talking about. I've thought about using it myself but haven't yet. My current fuge is shallow sand with some Lr Rubble in there for future fragging. __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

12-19-2007, 08:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 7,099 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: refugium substrate? mud or sand I use mineral mud in my refugium for my mangrove. It is growing well. Better then when i used miracle mud in the past. __________________ Visit my aquarium -->New Horizons By Frankie Bruce: Today's meeting is Step 5: Bring a fish friend. Everyone brought a fish friend? DIY=DO IT YOURSELF! If we ignore the environment maybe it will just go away....

12-19-2007, 10:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 10,613 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: refugium substrate? mud or sand Frank has MM changed or what would you account for the better growth? __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

12-19-2007, 11:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: refugium substrate? mud or sand I use miracle mud and a DSB. To be honest, I don't know that it provides any benefits as I don't have any way to measure trace elements nor can I determine if it's coming from the mud or from the IO salt mixture I'm using. The only thing that I can go by is what Kent Marine has in their advertisement about it. I'm getting good growth in my tank, everyone looks healthy, but like I said, I can't say that that is because of the miracle mud. __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

12-28-2007, 07:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
Reefcraze_1 Fire Coral Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 68 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: refugium substrate? mud or sand i use a 7" live sand bed with my mangroves. The sand is carib sea arga alive special grade reef sand.

12-28-2007, 07:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
dobejazz Elegance coral Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,242 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: refugium substrate? mud or sand I have the miracle mud in my sump - it's been 2 years now (I did NOT follow the directions and switch out 1/2 of it yet) It worked well for the first year or so but lately I have been getting a huge build up of film algae in the display daily (which is a huge PIA on an acrylic tank). I'm going to remove it all and try a bare bottom sump w/ cheato for a while and see of that works better __________________ Kelli

12-28-2007, 07:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,412 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: refugium substrate? mud or sand Arragonite sand for me. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

12-28-2007, 07:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
DrHank Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,251 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: refugium substrate? mud or sand Sand here! __________________ Jim Dr Hank's 210 Build: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nks-tanks.html Dr Hank's 155 Bowfront:http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-bowfront.html

01-03-2008, 10:17 AM	#11 (permalink)
althea2you Padawan Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,424 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: refugium substrate? mud or sand thanks everyone... i think i am definitely going with sand! i wasnt too confident with the mud anyways... __________________ ~Sarah~ How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours. ~Wayne Dyer 28g Nano The 90 Gallon

01-03-2008, 06:11 PM	#12 (permalink)
Rcpilot Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Arvada, CO. Posts: 297 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: refugium substrate? mud or sand Reef sand for mine. About 5-6" deep. And a hunk of cheato the size of a volleyball. ZERO nitrates.

01-07-2008, 08:04 PM	#13 (permalink)
Tru2nr Elegance coral Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,058 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: refugium substrate? mud or sand ok so you guys would suggest going with mineral mud over miracle mud? i gotta order mineral mud rather then use the miracle mud i can get from the lfs(well not so local but the only place ill ever buy fish or corals lol)

01-07-2008, 09:25 PM	#14 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: refugium substrate? mud or sand I used miracle mud in my fuge and I don't have any issues. I don't know that there is a real difference between the two besides the price. __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

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