replacing MM

[craigieboi]

it says you should replace MM 50% every 12 months?.......... does everyone do this?

im just wondering as i thought it took about 6 months for a MM to work properly also if i rip out 50% every 12 months isnt this gonna be disruptive?

[Cranners]

Potentially it would be disruptive - turning the pump off clearing half of the algae before scooping out the mud. Placing replacment mud in the sump re fill with fresh water - leave to settle and then turn on the return pump.

Thats probably how I will be doing in September this year 12months after the set up of the mud filter.

Take things easy I suppose

J

[Snowsurfer]

Mines been running over 2 years now and not changed any.

[Sanj]

The ecosystem website advises to replace 50% of miracle mud after 2years, and then every 12 months after that, not after the initial 12 months.

[craigieboi]

thanks sanj.. i missed that must have just skimmed over til i saw the 12 month thing :o

[Cranners]

Ah thats where we are going wrong lol

No worries I will be leaving the mud alone then. I may be getting down to some detailed testing soon to see how the parameters are doing.....

J

[craigieboi]

:laugh::laugh:

do you have any LR rubble in the same chamber as the MM ?..would it be beneficial/detremental to put in the same chamber? ( i only meaning 2 or 3 pieces and small bits at that )

[Sanj]

I read one of the Ecosystems sump manuals and they suggested tieing the caulerpa algae to bits of live rock rubble and push into the mud. I dont think having some rubble in there would be detrimental and can only work to serve the pod population.

[craigieboi]

cool thanks again sanj :D

[steviepip]

I did a partial change last night. Used 5lb jar miracle mud, 1 gal jar mineral mud and 1 small bag live sand.
What a bl**dy mess it made of the sump. Left it overnight to settle but was still a little cloudy so now the tank is the same. Will have to see tonight what it is like.

[vixen]

Hi Guys. I have been thinking of changing mine, i was thinking of getting some perspex to split the sump so i could change one side easier,when you take the mm out would you sieve it to save all the life thats in it, as i have loads of life burrowing in the mud i would like to save all of it.here is a pic of my sump shows the burrows.
Trudy

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/sump1.JPG

[Cranners]

I would say no need to save the life as there will be plenty to colonise the new mud from the existing life.

Jon

[steviepip]

Just to let you know the tank ws completely clear when I got home just need to clear the stuff laying on the rock.

[jeffd]

I set up MM system in to October 2002 with 30lb(?) (3 bags @£210).
http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=231780

Apart from a 50% change in March 2004 which I did in response to a problem which turned out to be not related, I have never changed any more.
I can't say that it wont have had an impact on coral growth rates, but it has certainly not affected the system in general terms ie the system doesn't suffer from nitrate or phosphate problems. I have always used a floating macroalgae (Dictyota possibly) ,which has only recently gone into decline, and now being replaced with Chaetomorpha.

[Frogfone]

Changed one tub in 5 years on our old four footer as we had a problem with the algae not growing in the sump. Didn't make any difference. Changing the tubes did though!!

I'm not convinced the mud plays any more of a role than as an ecosystem for the algae and associated critters to live in. Never held to the theory that it released anything much over the course of time. It may also act as a shallow de nitrification bed due to the very small particle size of the mud. But I would say disturbing it would only remove good stuff and possibly release nutrients in the process of being broken down. Removing and replacing imo is a bit of a marketing gimmick!! Repeat sales from happy customers and all that.

Sharon