Best refugium substrate

[CleanYourTank11]

Hey MR,
If you have spare time please give your personal preference/experience on the best refugium substrate with pros and cons. Thank you

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Reefs

 

[edd]

tagging along, just setting one up. i was going to use sand.

 

[CleanYourTank11]

Sounds good. You can use sand but there are other products out there that would be a bit better, miracle mud just to name one of them.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Reefs

 

[edd]

Sounds good. You can use sand but there are other products out there that would be a bit better, miracle mud just to name one of them.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Reefs

kinda pricey for so called mud. they recommend you change half every 2 yrs.

 

[jdnumis]

kinda pricey for so called mud. they recommend you change half every 2 yrs.

It's worth it.

 

[SteveZ15]

I hear mixed things about the mud,what was the noticeable difference that makes you stay using this?I also heard of some people adding a layer ontop of the sand does that make any difference?

 

[SanmanReefer]

I used the leftover of my Tropic Eden Reef flakes from my DT. No problems so far.

 

[jdnumis]

I hear mixed things about the mud,what was the noticeable difference that makes you stay using this?I also heard of some people adding a layer ontop of the sand does that make any difference?

Been using it for 3 years. No problems at all. It's good nutrients for your ecosystem. I never heard of layering it on top of sand

 

[SanmanReefer]

Been using it for 3 years. No problems at all. It's good nutrients for your ecosystem. I never heard of layering it on top of sand

Have you changed it so far? I hear its supposed to be replaced every two years. Is that right?

 

[jdnumis]

Have you changed it so far? I hear its supposed to be replaced every two years. Is that right?

Yes you are supposed to replace every 2 years. I have changed it once. I took half out of refugium and replaced it with 1 container. It was a little cloudy but it cleared up. I turned everything off before I replaced it. It was fairly easy to do

 

[annanymous]

one of the LFS in Brooklyn swears by the miracle mud in his sump, but i heard mixed reviews. What are the specific benefits of miracle mud vs plain old LS

 

[jdnumis]

one of the LFS in Brooklyn swears by the miracle mud in his sump, but i heard mixed reviews. What are the specific benefits of miracle mud vs plain old LS

Miracle mud gives off nutrients to your system. Live sand to me is a nitrate factory. I keep chaeto in my fuge with a airstone. Chaeto is constantly moving and I don't want it to kick up sand

 

[annanymous]

Miracle mud gives off nutrients to your system. Live sand to me is a nitrate factory.

would mud trap stuff as well?

 

[annanymous]

Jdnumis, any chance you can post a pic of ur fuge?

 

[edd]

Miracle mud gives off nutrients to your system. Live sand to me is a nitrate factory. I keep chaeto in my fuge with a airstone. Chaeto is constantly moving and I don't want it to kick up sand

i thought a deep sand bed will process nitrates, not produce them?

i have read about putting a layer of sand over mud, don't remember why.

how deep of a bed of mud do you have and how far does a container go?

 

[strgazr27]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1734678

 

[annanymous]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1734678

link not working...:scratch:

 

[cisco1717]

anything less than 4 inches will not have the full benefits of DS and the more open space and water flow the better as long its not disturbed. 3" and less you will need to siphon (clean) as part of maintenance. I use mud with no regrets but you shouldn't cover it with sand completely

 

[jdnumis]

Here is a pic of my Fuge

Jdnumis, any chance you can post a pic of ur fuge?

Cheato on top with mud and airstone to break up gases that may be trapped inside

~James

 

[annanymous]

Cheato on top with mud and airstone to break up gases that may be trapped inside

~James

thanks james

How many inches of mud do u have? and does airstone help?