Using peat?

[marty_87]

Hello again!

Just wondering how many fellow apisto keepers use peat either in their tanks or to filter their water through?

Also if you do is it just the normal peat moss from like bunnings? Or do u need to use a special type?

Thanks again guys!

[Roxanne]

eee...no mate,not the Bunnings Peat..it's full of pathogens...the proper peat is hard to find and a bit pricey.

TW knows where to get it and how to use it...I'll send her this link in case she doesn't see it...

HTH

[briztoon]

Hey Marty,

I use both, Ehiem ehfi torf which should be available from any LFS* that stocks ehiem products, and Canadian sphagnum moss which is stocked by Fishchicks.

I have a 150 litre water barrel that I use to treat water, and I usually have a bag of each in the barrel.

I also have ketapang leaves in my tanks, and I know japes has both ketapang leaves and sphagnum moss in his tanks.


You may need to twist thier arm, but they can order it from Bayfish along with thier other ehiem products.

[marty_87]

Oh so not even sphagnum moss from bunnings? Can u not treat it in any way to make it ok?

[Rod]

You need sphagnum moss peat
not sphagnum moss
or peat

Commercial peat is decomposed pine +coconut fibre
great for gardening.....not for aquariums

:wink:

[marty_87]

Oh ok thanks! Guess I'm taking it back to bunnings.... :D

[Hassles]

Marty

The Ehiem TORF (German for Peat) pellets will be pretty easy if you can hunt them down. If purchasing peat moss from a garden supplier of similar you need to ensure that no other products have been added eg: such as fertiliser or you'll experience the aglae bloom to end all algae blooms.

Peat moss is often boiled before use so that it doesn't darken the water too much. Why d you want to use peat ? perhaps filters water could help you ?

Adding peat to your filters can be drama-ful as it begins to break down. Best used in water drums as advised above.

[marty_87]

Oh ok thanks Hassles. Think I wont bother with it.

[TW]

Hi, only once did I find the pure stuff. I now use Indian Almond Leaves (Terminalia Catappa Leaves). I bought my current batch from here
http://www.discusforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19319&highlight=indian+almond+leaves

[steph]

Hi Marty

You might be able to find peat from one of the specialist garden nurseries. Try one that specialises in orchids - they seem to use a lot of peat, and yes ensure its not mixed with coir or has any fert's in it.

If you dont want to put it in the tank you can try making a "peat tea" with about a handful of peat and ~2 litres of boiling water (from the kettle) - leave it to steep for several hours then strain off the liquid and mix with your normal change water. You may need to play around a bit with quantities/steeping time depending on your tank size (or hand size)

Steph

[Vspec]

thanks a bunch for the info in general guys. the process has been a fast learning curve, but a damn fun ride. your links to actual product sourcing to boot has been great

[Hassles]

Oh ok thanks Hassles. Think I wont bother with it.

Marty

you 'ought to rethink your approach about peat. Peat is an excellent product if this will help you attain a desired environment. You'll just need to know how best to employ it and be aware that some commercially available products contain other stuff. Yeah sure you'll probably have to do some research and will probably have some dramas finding some pure peat or related products (eg: TORF pellets). Knowing how to employ peat, what it does to the water and where to acquire it will be a serious addition to your fish-keeping arsenal and more than worth the trouble. There was once a time in our lives when we didn't know what the cycling phase was or how it all happened. We all learned and learning about Peat is going to be no more difficult. Give it a go and share your experiences here.

Quotes from the Eheim EHFI TORF leaflet (the product that predates Torf Pellets):

Peat filtration is a measure which can be recommended for creating a tropical water environment in organic tanks for soft water fish (for instance congo carps, neons, discus). It enriches the water with beneficial substances, reduces the carbonate hardness and stabilises the PH value.

EHFITORF: a chemically effective filter peat with part of its suspended matter extracted. Acidifies the water with valuable hormones and humic acids, lowers the carbonate hardness value and ensures a stable PH range. Suitable for short-term use in waters with a medium carbonate hardness of approximately 8 degrees.

USE: EHFITORF is put loosely into the net bag and placed in the filter canister on top of a layer of EHFIMECH/EHFIFIX. Do not use together with carbon media.

In the case of a medium carbonate hardness one reckons with approximately 1 litre of peat per 100 litres of water for an operating period of maximum 3 - 4 weeks. However, you have to pay attention to the performance of the filter, since the water flow rapidly deteriorates when peat is used.

As in the case of all additives, the changed water properties must be checked at regular intervals.

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Quotes from the Eheim TORF Pellets packaging:

Place the EHEIM peat pellets after the mechanical-bio-logical filtration or hand them directly in the aquarium in a netbag.

Peat pellets:

Natural acid peat is rich in valuable substances, such as humic matter and trace elements (for this reason avoid leaching). Peat pellets reduce the PH value and the carbonate hardness of the water and are suitable for all water conditions from tropical clear water to blackwater, in particular. EHEIM recommends 1 litre of peat on 80 to 100 litres of aquarium water. Peat expands in water. For this reason, irrigate the peat (but avoid leaching) prior to use. Replace the peat after three to six weeks. Do not use peat and activated carbon at the same time.

===============

Obviously little of the known information has found its way onto the packaging particularly with regards to the chemical influences peat will exercise on the water. Some research will fill in the gaps and at $20 per litre of pellets for a months effectiveness that will mount up as the year passes. In my opinion the best option would be to track-down a reliable source of Peat Moss and prepare water to blend with dechlorinated tap water prior to water exchanges as advised above. If memory serves me well, reknown Apistogramma breeder and one-time member of this forum Th0mas employed peat to soften his water for breeding among other things A.elizabethae. The good folks of Sydney are more dependent upon this type of water conditioning than we fortunates of Melbourne. I have peat and torf pellets but I have never needed to employ them. One more thing is you ought to do a little research on "Blackwater Extract".


take care