Mud in refugium?

[howze01]

Ayone use any of the "muds" in their fuge? Looks like it would work out well but it's pretty expensive and it seems as though you need to replace it every so often. Was thinking of mixing it with the sand but if it needs to be replaced that wouldn't really work. Anyone?

 

[thirty5]

I looked into it, and I was told to put mud on the bottom and then a couple of inches of sand on top. I really do not want to have to pull all that out and replace it. Think of the mess that it will make. I Has to cloud up when you change it...

 

[howze01]

I would think that if you turn the pumps off for a few hours it wouldn't be too bad. I'm OK with cleaning it out once a year or so but if it's more than that it may be more than I'm really looking for. Does the sand stay on top of the mud? Does it settle? If it stays on top I could just siphon off the sand and reuse it.

 

[downbeach]

Here's the stuff I use, I replace 1/2 of it every 6 months.

http://www.ecosystemaquarium.com/products/eco-marine/miracle-mud.html

 

[thirty5]

I would think that if you turn the pumps off for a few hours it wouldn't be too bad. I'm OK with cleaning it out once a year or so but if it's more than that it may be more than I'm really looking for. Does the sand stay on top of the mud? Does it settle? If it stays on top I could just siphon off the sand and reuse it.

I guess but that seems a little too much work. I was told that sand goes on top, but if you have anything that stirs the sand you would have to think that it is going to mix up.

Here's the stuff I use, I replace 1/2 of it every 6 months.

http://www.ecosystemaquarium.com/products/eco-marine/miracle-mud.html

That is the stuff that I looked into.

 

[Sunny]

I had Miracle mud in my fuge. The real issue with that is the silt, that can end up in your DT. I had 2 - 3 sponge filters to filter the water or catch the silt before it reached the return pump.
As far as benefits go, I am not sure it is worth it. In mu current setup, I have only sand.
The number of pods and microorganisms in my current setup is way more than when I had mud. However, it may not be a good benefit "gauge".

Sunny

 

[JRWOHLER]

I have a small mangrove growing in mine. Basically I did the muddle, sand, rubble, and cover with cheato....have not replaced it yet. I consider it potting soil for my mangrove basically.

 

[Joejoe]

The directions for Miracle mud is 1/2 once a year. And you only need a 1" inch deep bed.

 

[TanksNStuff]

No experience with "mud" in my fuge. I just have a few small boulders of LR along with some smaller broken off pieces, along with a large ball of chaeto floating on top. This is enough to create a great habitat for bristle worms, hermit crabs, snails, and tons of pods.

I guess it depends on why you intend to have the mud. If it's for pod farming... I'd recommend small pieces of LR piled up and some chaeto. I have a lot of them crawling and swimming all over the place in there. Make a few of those Pod Condos that Sid found and keep them in the fuge. Then move them to the DT to keep it populated when it runs low.

If you want it for growning macro algae, well it would help for mangroves but you don't need anything for chaeto.