Refuge substrates?

[ScooterGuitar]

Any experience with any of these? I am thinking of mixing various ones, or is good old live sand just as good?
Miracle Mud
Mineral Mud
Kent BioSediment

[Diver_1298]

Save your money and use good old live sand!!
I was at the pet store today also and bought a pulsing Xenia. The puppies they had were so cute; but alas I already have two dogs, so I know what you mean about impulse buys :-)
Jim

[beaverspork]

I don't know about the other two, but you should do a google search on the miracle mud. Also check into it at wetwebmedia.com. I have read some very discouraging things about it. Plus it is very expensive. I would recommend a sand bed personally. Along with some smaller pieces of live rock.

[Birdlady]

There are a few in my local reef club that swear by the miracle mud and no skimmer.....I am not yet convinced. I used live sand. YOu could also, add layer of the mud to the top of the sand...I think. YOu would then get the mineral release from the mud. It is recommended with the mud systems that you replace a third to a half of it every 3 to 6 months...that would be a very messy job I think.

[ScooterGuitar]

Yes. I was leaning towards sand msyelf. I may just do that a small top layer of the MM and see how it works. But then again, $40 for 5 punds, argh! Could get the good Agra live sand 20 pd bag for that price.
4" deep is what I have planned, am I right?

[Birdlady]

4" is what I have done. I have heard others say minimum of 6". Also, know that it will exhaust over time. No one can say how long...2 years, 5 years, who knows. But if it is in the fuge, you can replace a DSB easier that if it is in your display tank.

[ScooterGuitar]

Yes, I ahve heard that, but may I ask how we/you knwo when it is exhausted?

[Birdlady]

From what I can gather, you will first get nitrates, and then problems with cyano and other algaes....then deteriorating water quality.