(hagen) fluval makes this peat moss stuff for filters,and i was reading th back of the box and it said you could aslo use it for plants...it said to take small amounts and put it under the roots of plants,and the plants will take the nutrients out of the moss (or something)...i work at the pet store so i took it and am gunna try it...has anyone used this stuff in that way before...?

ive heard of something like that but never researched anything into it...please post back and tell me how it works!

I'm pretty sure it will work. Here in Denmark a company called Prodac produces special peat moss for substrate. You just place a layer of it and then put gravel over it. It's called Humus. Never tried it, but it should be just as good as flourite, and also lover the Ph.

Good luck.

PS: Prepare for black water

- Glud

I've been reading a lot on peat moss these past couple of days to try and lower my tanks GH. I did come across a good link for all kinds of peat related stuff. Theres a guy who set up a tank in just that way and apparently the tanks been running for 4 years with the same substrate. Peat has a good CER (cation exchange rate) which allows it to store and release nutrients much like flourite or kitty litter. Its good reading. I learned a lot about peat.

Interesting article. I like the way that Mark prepares his water. But i dont like yellow/brown water, so i will do it with CO2. As i havent got my planted tank up yet, i have no experience with CO2. Hpw much does it lower the Gh and the Ph?

- Glud

Co2 won't do a thing to lower GH or KH. It only lowers your ph. It'll lower your ph just about as much as you want it to. But there is a limit to how much your fish can take before they get uncomfortable or die. Levels up to 30-35 ppm of co2 should be safe for most fish. Most non co2 supplemented tanks have a co2 level of 1-2ppm, which is equivalent to the level of co2 in the atmosphere.

if you add small amounts under the roots,it shouldent turn the water yellow should it??

Like some driftwood, it will color the water at first, but as water changes are done, the water will get clearer and clearer. This is because the wood is releasing stuff that colors the water, but that stuff isn't in unlimited amounts. Eventually, it gets to such a small amount that when the log has released enough of the stuff into the water to be at equilibrium (equal amounts in water and log) you won't be able to tell in the water! I think a similiar thing will happen with peat, but not if you continually replace it...

-Tim

so when i add a new plant should i just bury some peat under the gravel as i would do the plants roots or stem...?

I think that is a lot easier said than done! How would you plan on getting the peat there when the tank is full of water?

-Tim

the peat is held togather good,the stuff i have is, so you would just get a small amount and then berry it under the gravel where the plants roots would or will be...i dont know...