Filter for my first reef tank.

[fitterKen]

I would like to hear from those of you with experiences (good or bad), with the Ecosystem brand filter with "Miracle Mud". I am giving strong consideration to starting my first reef tank with this product. Thanks, Ken

[dobejazz]

Welcome to TRT !

I moved your thread here to the Gerneral Reef discussion to get more exposure

I started my 95g tank with miracle mud in the sump it seemed to much of a hassle to change out 50 % after 2 years so I just took it all out

[dobejazz]

[DarthOcellaris]

Welcome to TRT

why are you giving the mud consideration? What about it have you read that attracts you?

[Geoff]

Welcome to TRT!!!



the only filtration you need for a SW tank is the LR and a skimmer. anything else is just added maintenance. this includes HOB filters, cannisters, sand, miracle mud, refugiums, denitrators, ozone generators, refugiums, wet/drys, magic water magnets, and did i say refugiums.

G~

[DarthOcellaris]

Geoff, if I didn't know any better, I'd say your tank is a glass box with fish, rock and lights...no water, no pumps, no....

[crvz]

I agree with Geoff. While products like Miracle Mud do work for a time, the amount of maintenance and up-keep usually don't justify their use in my experience. You're better off long term with live rock and a good skimmer.

[jamessp01]

years ago ozone generators were pretty popular. Now that im back researching the hobby I dont see to many folks using them. What accounts for the decline in use? (if there is a decline, or just my preception of one) Are ORP levels higher now for other reasons?

[DarthOcellaris]

Originally Posted by jamessp01

years ago ozone generators were pretty popular. Now that im back researching the hobby I dont see to many folks using them. What accounts for the decline in use? (if there is a decline, or just my preception of one) Are ORP levels higher now for other reasons?

People nowadays are generally going au' Natural. There's the whole 'maintenance' you have to work with and there are discussions on health concerns revolving ozone too.

Lot's of folks here still use them and swear by them though. I'm even considering trying one later down the road.

[Geoff]

Originally Posted by jamessp01

years ago ozone generators were pretty popular. Now that im back researching the hobby I dont see to many folks using them. What accounts for the decline in use? (if there is a decline, or just my preception of one) Are ORP levels higher now for other reasons?

now that aquarium keeping is coming out of the dark ages for the silly sand "experts" we are once again getting somewhere in this hobby. now that more and more people are moving away from sand bed tanks the amount of equipment needed to support the sand bed is falling by the way side. all of those high tech gadgets that were used in the 90's were all there to support the silly sand bed. if you remove the sand bed, you will not need the equipment, this includes the high powered lighting. a lot has changed in the past 5 years in regards to take maintenance and equipment needed.

a BB tank with a monster skimmer will keep a tank far more clean than people ever thought possible, and for far less money.

G~

[HAROLDL]

Geoff and crvz are on point!

When I was a small fry, I remember my Dad running a "Nautural" setup with nothing but a Lee's protein skimmer. Mind you this was mid 70's, but the tank ran very well doing nothing but bye weekly water changes.

Not to venture too much, but as a matter of fact there is an excellent store (nursery) that I visit when I'm home in the DC area thats still using the natural system for their tanks (don't know if I can post the name and site or not)...but they use natural sunlight for all of their tanks and LR and ALL of their animals (Fish,Verts,LR) are thriving beyond discription, the tanks are ony run on LR and two super skimmers.

[DarthOcellaris]

Isnt this the 'Berlin System' of the 90's? Just LR for filtration ( and lots of it ) and a skimmer?

[Geoff]

the Berlin system is a bit earlier, but yes. at some point it was swept under the carpet from all of the "sand experts". overseas the Berlin method has been in use all of this time.

G~

[HAROLDL]

So to speak....yes!
But the Berlin system was just a name given to the natural system concept.

[DarthOcellaris]

Looks like this thread is going to be a good one