Originally Posted by
Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/2585176
Now, if you are ready, lets talk mud. As you know, one the sump we set up Saturday, we did a modification on the sump set-up that we had designed. The owner (also a member of the boards), had purchased a 5lb container of Miracle Mud; after being assured by the not so local LFS she purchased the sump from that it should swell and provide sufficient substrate for the sump I previously described to you.
Having now see the mud, I can tell you that it is nothing at all like the substrate that I currently have in my refugeum. Nor did it "swell". Concerned with the initial volume of substrate and having our doubts, Dennis and I convinced the owner to go with a plenum, and lack of desirable materials available at the local LFS, we were forced to further diverge from the sump design that you and I had discussed. As a result we ended up with the substrate as I describe previously. The volume of mud we achieved with the initial quantity was sufficient to cover the sump to a depth of between 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
Now given that I know nothing about this substrate, I desire to pick you brain. Based on our previous discussion, I assume that this will in no way provide the benefit of a anaerobic layer in the mid regions of the sump. Obviously more will be needed. How much more is the question. Additionally, we previously discussed "mud activator" and given that the Miracle Mud is dry, I advised her that she would need to purchase the activator as well. In addition to the activator, can you advise me as to what would be some suitable mud-dwelling inverts for her to include in her sump?
Randy I have never heard of mud swelling. Aquariums having mud substraight cannot have strong water movement since the soft fine mud is easily suspended in the water. It is possible that with slight suspension it is possible that there is a perception of swelling.
A mud bottom sump can be set up with a thin or deep layer of mud that being said all the research I have done suggests that two inches of mud min is sufficient for most setups.
IMO ¼ to ½ is just not sufficient and a waste of money.
The mud you get “fresh” out of he jar IMO is ideal substrate because it supplies trace elements, iodine, minerals, and nutrients, helping create a beneficial environment for aquarium food such as copepods, burrowing worms, decapods, and other sump organisms. Organic rich clay, iodine and chelated-element rich substrate, and super-fine aragonite organic acids. That being said these elements get depleted as your sump ages. As for now IMO no booster is needed.
Now as far as inverts. There are many but the problem is getting them there are mud snails mud shrimp and worms. Hard to get.
polychaete worms burrow deep down. In the mud again hard to get but work great because
They burrow deep in the deeper layers of the bed and form tubes that extend towards the surface where the oxygen levels are highest, and it's thought that their movements prevent the bed from becoming completely anaerobic and prevent the build-up of bacterial glycocalyces.
My friend there just is no simple stocking plan yet for a mud substraight its seems that the rooting algae although with its impacting potential will with routine harvesting keep the mud some what “loose”.
I have some calls out, and hope to have more info for you tomorow On specific inverts available
