Question about peat substrate

[PuppyFluffer]

I want to set up a 10 gallon planted (low light) tank. I have decided to use sand as a substrate. I am running across posts which suggest using peat under sand.
Is this straight peat moss?

What's the process of placing it in the tank. It's very fluffy stuff. Do you soak it prior to placement?

How deep a layer do you recommend?

How much sand on top?

 

[jm1212]

peat substrate is usually only used for tanks with which you intend to breed fish that need extremely soft water (neons, killis, etc.). it takes a little bit to sink since it needs to be saturated with water. for most tanks, sand is fine.

 

[PuppyFluffer]

Thanks for the feedback!

Would neons be appropriate in a 10 gallon? I know they are small but what about their swimming habits? Enough room in a 10 for them?

I like them a lot.

I know they prefer softer water. I have well water which generally in my area comes up thru limestone so tends to be a tad hard.

I have no interest in breeding fish at this point (and don't foresee the time to do so any time soon!)

 

[Marinemom]

Unless there is a really good reason to use peat such as fish that really prefer softer water, you can just stick with sand. It will be easier for you to take care of anyway then a mixture of the two. A small school of neons or cardinals will be fine in a ten gallon tank as long as you stay on top of the water conditions.

Marinemom

 

[Yadokari]

Soft water also promotes plant growth, so that's also a plus in using peat.

 

[crazycanuck]

if you are just going to house some neons in a 10,there is no reason for the hassle of peat substrate. plants will do fine in the sand to. if you plan on really planting it heavily,flourite sand might be better,not necisary though.. one thing you could do that would make the neons a little more at home is get a filter bag ( somewhat like a nylon stocking ) and fill it with peat ,and hang it in the filter,it will bleed into the water.
it doesnt really soften it thought,but will release tannins into the watermwhich is good.

 

[Lupin]

Peat substrate can be a bit messy. I'd rather put it in a nylon bag and placed in a filter.

 

[oscaremmy]

Not wishing to hijack this, but my recent thread on installing a peat substrate (29g tank set-up from scratch) shows just how easy it is to do this.

The tannins leach into the water even from under pool filter sand, giving a planted tank that wonderful 'bogwood yellow' water and, of course lowering pH - mine has gone from 8.4 to 7.2 due to using a peat substrate.

The only messy part is when you saturate it by squeezing water into it - you can do this in a bucket, but you don't need much water - if you use too much water the peat will be hard to hold and squeeze - I use about a pint of water, maybe 2, for a half bag of peat. (You can even saturate it in the bag of peat itself, just snip a corner, add water and give it a really good shake for about 30 seconds). All you are looking for is to have no floating peat, and although dry peat is floaty stuff, wet peat is instantly NOT floaty. For a 29g tank with 1-inch depth of wet peat, this took me 5 minutes - literally. Peat is not like mud, it washes off instantly, so it really only LOOKS messy. Because it is immediately waterlogged, even if there is a 'hole' in your sand, like when you start planting, the peat does not float up.

Here's the thread link with photos of installing peat into a new tank:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150805