I've never used mangroves/mud with an SPS dominated, but I've been using it for softies LPS and clams - I'm hooked on watching them grow myself.....
Mangroves can grow as fast as you desire, I've used MH before and they grew two feet in two months
I've long since toned it down to 30 watts @ 6hrs and still get growth
The filtering, buffering, trace elements thing are negligible at most for my reef.
I've also had the same mud for six years and it's still kickin' out the copepods and company
TinMan
