For Peat Sake
- Thread starter HanZsvo2
- Start date
There are many different kinds of aquarium peat... if you haven't run across any in your personal or I-net travels, you can't be looking too hard!! Almost any fish store will carry some form of it, or get it online. The Fluval peat nuggets or pellets work pretty good, but don't seem to last very long IMO. I like a product called Keta-Peat from Mark Weiss... contains some peat nuggets and also bits ot leaves and such and seems to work the best for me! I've rarly seen it sold in stores, but several places online carry it, albeit it's pretty expensive! I've always gatton several jars at fish auctions... pay about $5 a can for it. Hopefully I don't run out soon.
Of course, you can always use the store bought peat and it works well, just maybe takes a little more to get the same effect. Make some you are getting 100% spagnum peat... otherwise it may have fillers and such that could harm fish. I've found several varieties at hope depot or walmart that all seem to work the same. You'll need a fair amount if you want to 'see' any changes, otherwise, it's best to use test measurements for ph and hardness.
What exactly are you using the peat for?
Good luck,
Of course, you can always use the store bought peat and it works well, just maybe takes a little more to get the same effect. Make some you are getting 100% spagnum peat... otherwise it may have fillers and such that could harm fish. I've found several varieties at hope depot or walmart that all seem to work the same. You'll need a fair amount if you want to 'see' any changes, otherwise, it's best to use test measurements for ph and hardness.
What exactly are you using the peat for?
Good luck,
The stuff I found is called spagnum peat moss, I think i'll give it a try is there any thing I need to worry about introducing peat to a aquarium with fish already in it, the reason I won't to use it is to help breed my german blue rams and I think they also natrually like peat treated waters.....
Yep, that's what I've used it for before and it seems to help.
As for considerations... It does contain many small particles that will cloud the water if not careful. I usually make a small pouch out of some filter floss material and wrap it up good, then stick it in my filter somewhere so the water goes thru it. Of course, the amount of peat you will need depends on several factors... aquaium size, water properties, and ultimate goal.
Best bet is to start small and work your way up using accurate test measurements as a guide. Don't rely on just looking at the water for color changes, sometimes it will change, sometimes it won't!
Also, keep on eye on the fish and see if you notice any behavorial differences.
Also, if you are using CO2, be particularly careful as the ph level is effected more the softer the water.
Good luck,
As for considerations... It does contain many small particles that will cloud the water if not careful. I usually make a small pouch out of some filter floss material and wrap it up good, then stick it in my filter somewhere so the water goes thru it. Of course, the amount of peat you will need depends on several factors... aquaium size, water properties, and ultimate goal.
Best bet is to start small and work your way up using accurate test measurements as a guide. Don't rely on just looking at the water for color changes, sometimes it will change, sometimes it won't!
Also, keep on eye on the fish and see if you notice any behavorial differences.
Also, if you are using CO2, be particularly careful as the ph level is effected more the softer the water.
Good luck,
What is the kh of your water? I've tried to use peat in order to bring down the ph of my apisto tanks with little success (my tap water has a dkh of 7). It was a waste of time for me, but most experienced dwarf breeders do swear by it (of course they also use RO water with little if any kh).
I use sponge filter, so could not "put it in my filter". Instead I tried something I heard on Apistogramma.com. I took athe peat and boiled it for about four hours (using distilled water). I then ran the water through a coffee filter and ended up with a jar of DIY "black water extract". Like I said, a high kh foiled my attempts. I have since switched over to RO water in a few of my tanks, and have started using Kent Humic (same thing as Tetra Blackwater). It's just less trouble for me.
PS In addition to lowering your ph, a larger than normal water change with RO water (Culligan water from grocery store is RO) that is a few degrees colder than the tank water will often trigger a spawn.
I use sponge filter, so could not "put it in my filter". Instead I tried something I heard on Apistogramma.com. I took athe peat and boiled it for about four hours (using distilled water). I then ran the water through a coffee filter and ended up with a jar of DIY "black water extract". Like I said, a high kh foiled my attempts. I have since switched over to RO water in a few of my tanks, and have started using Kent Humic (same thing as Tetra Blackwater). It's just less trouble for me.
PS In addition to lowering your ph, a larger than normal water change with RO water (Culligan water from grocery store is RO) that is a few degrees colder than the tank water will often trigger a spawn.
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I don't no exactly what my kh is because I have a strip test kit and its supposed to test your ph,hardness,alkalinity,nitrite,nitrates but every time I test my hardness it comes up as 0 so I don't think it's acurate at all ecspeacialy because it always says my ph is lower than my good liquid tester says which I trust more I curently use tap water but my lfs is going to give me free RO water because I know the owner so that should help out..