Plants+Canister Filter = Need Peat??

[sillypony]

I was at my LFS getting my lighting upgrade sunday, and I talked to my *favorite* sales guy. I was asking him about suggestions for the canister (1) to see if he expanded on what i read on here and 2) i like to test the sales guys, it lets me know how much to trust any info source when i compare it to others)

Anyways, he mentioned peat moss. Said i should consider it instead of carbon if i have plants. Then he said it would help soften the water, etc.

I know peat will do this, have contemplated it before as my water is quite hard. But i've never read that you *need* peat or that there is cause to get it, just because you have plants????

Has anyone ever tied these two together? Is there a reason my plants would want softer water?


Thanks!
LeeAnna

 

[Bk718]

some plants do better in softer slightly acidic conditions.. maybe this is what he meant?

 

[sillypony]

thats possible. are watersprite and hygro some of them? I mentioned getting low light plants ,and named those two in particular.

I was hoping there was a logical reason he would say that. It'd suck if my favorite lfs guy was pulling info outta thin air...

Should i be considering this then? I plan to run carbon at first, just b/c of all the messing around i've been doing, but then i was going to take it out n put in more media anyways....

 

[Bk718]

im not 2 familiar with peat moss, never used it. I already have really soft water, that plus co2 = soft acidic condition... So cant really give you a final answer.. But how hard is your water?? Are you considering using co2?? What will the lighting be (wpg)??

 

[sillypony]

abt 1.5 watts, no co2 (very low tech)

i will fertilize, although i havent picked a system yet

ph is 7.6 and gh and kh are 4 and 8 ( i think gh is the harder one? im not at home to look at my book)

 

[Lupin]

Sillypony, is there a reason to use carbon? Carbon are a complete waste of time and moeny unless you use them to remove tannins, medicines, etc. Peat is not necessary. It is up to you whether you want to use it or not but this seems to benefit most low-lighting plants as tannins can reduce the penetration of lights. Most plants do like soft and acidic water but how much difference you can make with your pH and hardness levels depends on the hardness levels of your tapwater.

 

[sillypony]

Lupin-
1) its there, my gram has a whole bottle of the stuff
2) Since it removes impurities and what not, i'll feel better about putting it back to gether after having parts strewn all about my room. I'm not going to run it permanently, just long enough to ensure that anything that may have been introduced by accident is taken out.

 

[TKOS]

Peat will slightly yellow your water, so take that into account. Many people like this. Remember that plants use the carbonate in harder water as a carbon source, so having some is a good idea. And a kh of 4 isn't very hard. In fact that makes for a stable tank. Peat will also contain lots of other nutrients that plants may like, though. It can be used as a fertilizer. Many planted tank folks use it mixed with their soil layer in the tank.

I don't think you need to use it. But with that kh using peat probably won't lead to any crashes for sure, so if you want to try it then why not.

 

[sillypony]

I'll contemplate it and do some more reading. My betta would probably appreciate it (if he lets me put him in there... we'll see).

Thanks for the info all. I'll do my hw before I set up the cannister.

 

[mr.key]

I use peat to help maintain my pH at neutral and counteract my moderately hard water. Most of my plants appreciate this. With water changes and evaporation without the peat my water tend to get harder and harder.