Adding MUDD fuge to established tank

[Speedy]

I want to add a 15-20 Gal mud fuge to my 60 Gal display.

It would be an above tank system.

What worries me is the mud's ripening period though. I will attempt to isolate the fuge from the rest of the system using say ball valves to keep it from polluting my system.

So my plan is to design the system so that I can completely isolate the fuge from the rest of the system by simply turning a ball valve, then pipe the sytem up so that it is ready to go. Setup the fuge with the mud, and maybe run a millenium filter to keep the water quality up to speed in the fuge for the isolation period. Then when everything is kosher open up the valve to the rest of the system.

Any ideas? Can anybody see any defects in this plan? Am I missing something? Any and all advice is well appreciated. Thanks in advanced.

[Speedy]

Buda buda bump.

[Diver_1298]

Do you have a sketch or a one line diagram? It sounds like you know what you are doing, you just want some reassurances before you proceed. Go for it!!
What are you going to use to circulate the water thru the hang on? A powerhead? How much flow do you anticipate you will need?
If you are worried about the mudd mixture polluting your water until it settles down, then yes, I would put on a small backpack filter to keep the water circulating until you are ready to put it on line.
What made you go with a mudd system anyway? Do you feel it has some kind of advantage over fine aragonite sand? Inquiring minds want to know....

Jim

[Speedy]

Thanks for replying Diver. For a sec there I thought I was alone on this one.

I will definitely post up a sketch/diagram.

I was planning on plugging up the return to the tank and running just a small HOB filter. Do you think a powerhead would be necessary for further circulation? I was figuring a light flow would be fine in the fuge.

Why the mudd? Not sure. I've heard it adds a better substrate for zooplankton, and small crustaceans. However, I have never used it OR seen it in place so I have no idea what so ever. That's why I turned to 3reefers for help.

If I was to choose a different substrate I wouldn't use fine aragonite. I'd probably go with crushed coral. Fine aragonite tends to give sand storms, and the crushed corals also acts as a nice shelter for small crustaceans.

The idea is to provide a protected ecosystem that will act not only as filtration for phosphates and other nutrients, but as a constant supply of food for the tank, mainly in the form of copepods and shrimp larvae.

[Diver_1298]

Sounds good to me.
Is this going to be on the back or on the side? I'm not sure how much access you will need. Have you had any thoughts about what you would like to put in it as far as rock or macro algae?
Keep us posted.

Jim