mineral mud?

i am setting up a refuge and i wanted to know if i should use mineral mud, fiji mud (the walt smith stuff), or if i should just use sand?

 

Sand! If someone could please clarify the purpose or benifit of mud....thanks.

I use sand in my fuge.

 

I use 50% sand 50% mud. Over time the mud loses some of its minerals and needs to be replaced.
To me mud is just another help. Does not show much, but just another part of the system.

 

I have sand in mine

 

Sand would be the easiest most economical thing to use. I think it is the most common. there is no need to add mud. I personally have never even seen a reef fuge with mud in it, but I have heard of it, never heard any concrete benefits though.

 

This is what I posted on another thread about the same topic.


I currently have a 4"-5" depth of Fiji Mud in my refugium. Its true, it smells like crap when placing it in for the first time. Once the water covers it, its fine. I was told by my LFS that the mud is better than the sand b/c of the nutrients that it carries and how its released little by little into the system. The only drawback to the Mud is that it "should" be replaced once a yr or two and thats a P.I.T.A. Heres what the bucket of Fiji Mud says;

Fiji Mud is collected from rare mud patches, discovered by science years ago, which are found in clear uncontaminated seawater. These patches typically occur at 40 - 50 feet of cool, clear water just off the coral reef.

Fiji Mud is unique in its ability to release essential minerals and vital nutrients that will allow hard and soft corals to flourish whether you are starting a new refugium or topping up your existing one. This product contains all the major and minor trace elements as they naturally occur as well as an elaborate network of 5-100 micron size organisms that are critical for the success with Acropora and other small polyp stony corals.

and heres the thread it self.......

http://www.3reef.com/forums/refugium/best-substrate-refugium-68870-2.html
Luna

 

I use cat litter. Yes you read right. Cat Litter. It works just as good as the high dollar mud. It does a great job and can tell a big differ. Use crozy kitty or something like it as long as its just clay and no other stuff in it.

 

I use 80-20, 80 percent mud, 20 sand to keep the mud settled when I first added water. I have mangroves and thought they would like the mud and sand mix. I only had to buy the amount of mud I needed, the LFS opened a new container for me and took out what I wanted, more economical for me that way, I didn't need a bunch. Happy reefing!

 

I have decided to start a refugium and after some research decided on mud with a layer of sand on top. The mud contains trace elements and houses beneficial organisms for sps corals, although you do need to replace it about once a year. It also is better at removing nitrates more quickly as the tighter packing is better for anerobic bacteria.

 

+1. When I set up mud refugiums, I use cat litter as well. It's the same stuff as the expensive stuff and costs much much less.