miracle mud?
- Thread starter shecky79
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uncleof6
Active member
What is your source of data concerning the composition of Miracle Mud?
For one, by analysis, MM is 26 - 30% silicon, other major constituents: Aluminum, 5-7%, calcium 2 - 4%, iron 3 - 4%, magnesium 1 - 2%, and sodium .6 - 1%. Tested by Northern Analytical Laboratories (New Hampshire) using Glow Discharge Mass Spectometry and an independent analyisis by Lars Sebralla, (Germany) using X-ray Fluorescence Spectometry.
1) By analysis, it is impossible that miracle mud is 80% rot and filth that has accumulated on the bottom of the ocean.
2) If all the silicon in MM is in the form of SiO2 (silicon dioxide), then MM is > 63% quartz. (Source: Randy Holmes-Farley)
In short: MM is not composed of 80% rot and filth from the bottom of the ocean, it is nothing more than silica sand. And as someone already pointed out: Snake oil.
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elegance coral
They call me EC
Their own site for one. http://www.ecosystemaquarium.com/products/miracle-mudr.html
Quote from the site.
"Miracle Mud is comprised of up to 80% oceanic mud, harvested from deep underwater and then dried on land."
Here's another
http://www.reefs.org/library/article/mm_analysis.html
Are the terms "rot" and "filth" used in scientific analysis? No! It should have been obvious by my statement that I was not attempting to make a scientific analysis of MM. The sea floor is full of rot and filth (again, not a scientific analysis). If they travel deep underwater and harvest the mud, they will be collecting rot and filth.
That simply is not true. It's loaded with phosphates, heavy metals, and quite a few other substances I don't' want in my reef tank. You may want to review the link on the analysis of MM a little closer.
jenglish
Marquis de Carabas
So we debate what is in it but agree you don't need it :lol:
MM may have use if you specifically wish to grow some seagrasses. I'm not talking about using them as export but some folks want to grow them as a display. Other than that, (and I'm not going to argue i it has a use in this case as that is not what the OP is wanting it for) it is pretty useless. :bum:
MM may have use if you specifically wish to grow some seagrasses. I'm not talking about using them as export but some folks want to grow them as a display. Other than that, (and I'm not going to argue i it has a use in this case as that is not what the OP is wanting it for) it is pretty useless. :bum:
wickedfish
New member
uncleof6 and elegance coral. You 2 sure no what you guys are talking about. One East Coast and the other West Coast. Ill be sure to ask my reef 411 and direct it to you, too.
I have a question about this. For all the hobbyists decrying "snake oil", are you doing so because of the "Miracle" brand name? There are other refugium substrates, and are they snake oil too? Or are they more legitimate because they're branded as "refugium substrate"?
If you read the ecosystem website, miracle mud is a PART of a lighted macroalgae refugium, not the entire filter solution.
If you read the ecosystem website, miracle mud is a PART of a lighted macroalgae refugium, not the entire filter solution.
I'm not sure I'd call it "snake oil", but I would call it overpriced. It's just a fine-grained substrate, with some questionable additives in it. It'll work well for seagrasses and mangroves, but it can be messy and it's particularly useful for macroalgae that we grow for nutrient export, IMO.
Right! The idea is that it provides an optimum environment to grow nutrient exporting macroalgae. Most users run GFO with this stuff. There are claims about reversal of HLLE, however I don't have much knowledge of the biological mechanics behind that disease.
seabayaquatic
New member
What is your source of data concerning the composition of Miracle Mud?
For one, by analysis, MM is 26 - 30% silicon, other major constituents: Aluminum, 5-7%, calcium 2 - 4%, iron 3 - 4%, magnesium 1 - 2%, and sodium .6 - 1%. Tested by Northern Analytical Laboratories (New Hampshire) using Glow Discharge Mass Spectometry and an independent analyisis by Lars Sebralla, (Germany) using X-ray Fluorescence Spectometry.
1) By analysis, it is impossible that miracle mud is 80% rot and filth that has accumulated on the bottom of the ocean.
2) If all the silicon in MM is in the form of SiO2 (silicon dioxide), then MM is > 63% quartz. (Source: Randy Holmes-Farley)
In short: MM is not composed of 80% rot and filth from the bottom of the ocean, it is nothing more than silica sand. And as someone already pointed out: Snake oil.
Silica drives algae! Not what most hobbyists want to look at. The only miracle from Miracle Mud is that anyone buys it! If you're doing a FOWL and possibly some leathers, I would just use a Wet/Dry. The leathers can handle elevated nitrates and the Wet/Dry converts ammonia and nitrites and increases dissolved oxygen much better than a fuge. Get a good skimmer and you'll be golden.
Here's a picture of the gorgeous tank my friend and I bought & parted out. It was a 12 year old in-wall AGA that had been running on a miracle mud fuge plus a 250w 10000k MH light. It's hard to tell from the photo but the growth was spectacular. All corals had great polyp extension.
While this stuff may be expensive, I've seen proof that it works.
Merlin3100
New member
Often that is how stuff that works is priced.
