Miracle Mud

[jfb3]

Has anyone tried with good results. I'm setting up a new tank and thought I'd try but having second thoughts. Hate to spend $75 per 10Lbs for mud.

 

[ripped tide]

Most people on this site will talk you out of miracle mud. You can get the same results using cheaper stuff

 

[jfb3]

Should I just use a deep sand bed or another product such as Walt Smith.

 

[ripped tide]

It's mainly a matter of opinion. I tend to avoid deep sand beds too. First let me ask you this, are you just trying to keep nitrates low? Or phosphates as well?

 

[jfb3]

Both. I was going to set up a refugium in a sump for the first time. So don' t know a lot and reading about the setup is confusing from differing opinions of the base material.

 

[ripped tide]

Yep. This stuff doesn't really have a right or wrong answer. Many different techniques can produce the same results. what works for me may not for you.

I don't like DSB due to the fact that they can be great at producing hydrogen sulfide. Have you ever seen a DSB that looks like it is black towards the bottom? That is hydrogen sulfide. If the pocket gets disturbed, things can be nuked.

This is just an aesthetic con, but a DSB in a display tank can take away from visual space.

You may want to use the miracle mud. It may be awesome, but some will always disagree.

The methods i use are probably considered less than conventional. It works for me, but when I was initially setting my filter up, there were many nay-Sayers.

I also don't want to take the responsibility of telling you that one way is better than the other, because that is not true. Research the use of bio-available carbon in the aquarium. This will put a twist on the sand bed descision. Maybe you won't want any sand bed at all...