Miracle Mud

[K]

Hi looking to set up a refugium using miracle mud as part of my seahorse set up, would I need to seed th mud with caulerpa or should it develop itself
thanks

 

[Anonymous]

I suggest you take a look at various opinion about miracle mud on this and the General Discussion Forum as well as other other BBS.

The caulerpa does not develop itself with the mud. If you want the Caulerpa to be part of the miracle mud system, you need to seed it with it.

 

[ChrisRD]

IMO you will accomplish the same thing setting up the refugium with a bed of fine-grained aragonite sand. You'll just spend a lot less money doing it. :wink:

As for fuge macros - I think most reefers are getting away from using Caulerpa sp. these days in favor of less toxic and more stable algaes like Chaetamorpha sp. and Graciliaria sp.

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

I don't feel "toxic" is the right word for Caulerpa due to its connotation, but it can be cause problem when it goes into sexual mode when the tank can not handle the event.

 

[Anonymous]

I think Chris was referring to Caulerpins. I haven't seen a problem with Caulerpins in my system but I doubt I would recognize the problem even if it were happening.

Caulerpins are toxic but I'm not convinced they are in sufficient quantity to become a real problem unless you never change water. However; with so many alternate algae sources like Ochtodes, Chaetomorpha, Halimeda, etc. why take the chance on Caulerpa? :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with both you and Chris to most extent, but I just don't like the term toxic.

I am sure all marine algae do some chemical warfare with various class of organic compounds, and caulerpin is just one example. BTW, FWIW, even with no water change for almost two years with Caulerpa in my tank, neither it affected any coral in specific way or the algae went sexual. :?