First planted tank!

Hello all, this is my first post here and I have not seen an "Introduce Yourself" forum so will assume that is not necessary.

I have a 29 Gal. which until recently housed some convicts. The convicts have now found new homes and I am in the process of setting up a planted tank. I really enjoy the appearance of the South American Blackwater setups I have seen.

So far I have a clump of:
Echinodorus palaefolius var. latifolius
Anubias barteri var. nana
somekind of cryp (no label)
and some hygro
two pieces of drift wood

6 red eyed tetras, 3 peppered cories (getting 3 more), and a bristlenosed pleco.

I want to have some blue rams or some other smallish cichlid, but have been unable to locate any.

My biggest question is how to use the peat to darken the water. Originally I was using an aquaclear hang on back filter which is easy to insert a peat "bag" into, I just got an ehiem 2213 on boxing day and now I am unsure of the best way of utilizing the peat.

If anyone has any pointers and/or suggestions for a new aquarist they will be great fully recieved.

Thanks J