Mineral mud/Miracle Mud

[shesacharmer]

I put it in my refugium...no sand on top. Added some live rock rubble and some macro algae and I'm happy with it. I see no reason to do away with it at all.

 

[Reefer4evaa]

I ran the mud only system for about a year and it did seem to work very good for me. however when it came time to change the mud after a year it made such a mess and was such a pain in the u know what ,that I removed it and never looked back. I would love to try it again someday when I have a lot more time.

I always add more and only take a little out

 

[Walt Smith]

Hi All,
I apologize for hardly ever visiting RC but someone just sent me a private message to view this post. Since I have not been on this site since I updated my computer I had to reset my password just to get in.
This is a very concerning thread with a lot confusing information. Most of the time I see a major cross over between Miracle Mud and Fiji Mud and it is hard to tell which product they are talking about.
I am not here to discuss the values or differences between to two products as that would be improper conduct on this forum. However what concerns me is the discussion referring to Fiji Mud not being real oceanic mud and that I am perpetrating a hoax or selling snake oil.
You can take this statement as a testament that what I state is true.
Walt Smith Fiji Mud is collected from patches of mud just off the slopping edges of coral reefs in Fiji waters. There is nothing fake or terrestrial about it other than it is deposited in these patches (scientific theory has it) through ocean currents at low tide from the mangrove areas along the coast.
We discovered these patches many years ago when a visiting scientist pointed out to us that this mud would be beneficial for aquarium use because of the rich mineral deposits and nutrient content. I think that was around 1999 and after many test we decided to market this product for use in refugiums. We are only allowed to harvest this mud under strict licensing and permit control from the Department of Environment here in Fiji.
Over the years I have heard many claims about this product from both sides of the fence, good and bad, and I usually take these comments under the consideration of user level of experience and try not to get too defensive because we all have the right to decide for ourselves whether a certain product benefits us or not. I have also heard many positive claims that this is the best thing they have ever used and some claim that it even helps cure lateral line disease because of the beneficial mineral content deposited into the water column from the mud. I have never used these claims in my advertising because I have never done this sort of study and cannot prove this to be true.
I also realize that there are a lot of people that like to take shots at products or manufacturers without being fully informed and I choose not to respond simply because it never produces a positive result. However, being called a liar (or false advertising) is simply something I feel compelled to defend.
I know that I just brought a "œgolf club to the beehive" so I will not engage in useless arguments over the merit of using this product or not but I do want to make it clear that no false statements regarding this product have ever been made by me.
You may also like to know that many public aquariums use large quantities of our Fiji Mud and just last year Tropic Marin did extensive scientific research on the benefits of this product for aquarium use and found the product so valuable that they signed a contract to use our product under their own label. This research took almost a year to complete and you can now buy the same product under the Tropic Marin label. But what do they know "¦ right?


 

[sirreal63]

Always glad when you pop in Walt. FWIW the bulk of this thread is about Miracle Mud, which there are independent analysis on.

 

[Bryopsis]

Hi All,
I apologize for hardly ever visiting RC but someone just sent me a private message to view this post. Since I have not been on this site since I updated my computer I had to reset my password just to get in.
This is a very concerning thread with a lot confusing information. Most of the time I see a major cross over between Miracle Mud and Fiji Mud and it is hard to tell which product they are talking about.
I am not here to discuss the values or differences between to two products as that would be improper conduct on this forum. However what concerns me is the discussion referring to Fiji Mud not being real oceanic mud and that I am perpetrating a hoax or selling snake oil.
You can take this statement as a testament that what I state is true.
Walt Smith Fiji Mud is collected from patches of mud just off the slopping edges of coral reefs in Fiji waters. There is nothing fake or terrestrial about it other than it is deposited in these patches (scientific theory has it) through ocean currents at low tide from the mangrove areas along the coast.
We discovered these patches many years ago when a visiting scientist pointed out to us that this mud would be beneficial for aquarium use because of the rich mineral deposits and nutrient content. I think that was around 1999 and after many test we decided to market this product for use in refugiums. We are only allowed to harvest this mud under strict licensing and permit control from the Department of Environment here in Fiji.
Over the years I have heard many claims about this product from both sides of the fence, good and bad, and I usually take these comments under the consideration of user level of experience and try not to get too defensive because we all have the right to decide for ourselves whether a certain product benefits us or not. I have also heard many positive claims that this is the best thing they have ever used and some claim that it even helps cure lateral line disease because of the beneficial mineral content deposited into the water column from the mud. I have never used these claims in my advertising because I have never done this sort of study and cannot prove this to be true.
I also realize that there are a lot of people that like to take shots at products or manufacturers without being fully informed and I choose not to respond simply because it never produces a positive result. However, being called a liar (or false advertising) is simply something I feel compelled to defend.
I know that I just brought a "œgolf club to the beehive" so I will not engage in useless arguments over the merit of using this product or not but I do want to make it clear that no false statements regarding this product have ever been made by me.
You may also like to know that many public aquariums use large quantities of our Fiji Mud and just last year Tropic Marin did extensive scientific research on the benefits of this product for aquarium use and found the product so valuable that they signed a contract to use our product under their own label. This research took almost a year to complete and you can now buy the same product under the Tropic Marin label. But what do they know "¦ right?


Thanks for that response Walt, interesting tidbit!

Now we know it's not false advertising, it's a problem with the ocean!! (the ocean is making fake mud!!)

(my sarcasm is as deep as the ocean)

 

[nanoluis]

I was looking for some info on refugium doings with mud, sand or rock. After reading this thread I have decided to go with some live rock and algae.

Thanks to everyone that posted!

 

[Buzz1329]

Miracle Mud aficionados will never be convinced that they are buying/using snake oil. And Miracle Mud haters (rationalists would be a better descriptor IMO, but I'm trying not to be judgmental) will never be able to convince them otherwise. I guess it's worth the effort so that newcomers can see both sides of story, but I suspect they will make their own choices regardless of threads like this. As far as I'm concerned if you think Miracle Mud will work/is working for you, go for it. It's your tank. Do what you think is best and good luck. Suum cuique.

Mike