Question About Peat

[LetsBeFriends]

Was a bit unsure where to put this but here goes,

I want to lower the ph and water hardness of my 75 gallon tank, it currently houses 2 pictus catfish and one Leporinus fasciatus

1) is peat a good medium to go about lowering the ph and water hardness, i understand that it also releases tannins into the water? this is the stuff that i plan on using http/www.bigalsonline.com/edealinv/servlet/ExecMacro?nurl=control/StoreItem.vm&ctl_nbr=3684&siId=3903757&catParentID=18405&scId=18405

2) what is the best way to utilize the peat (ie filter bag ect).

3) will activated carbon or Ammonia Remover filter media that i have in my aquaclear 110 filter interfere with the effects of the peat

4) if peat is not the right way to go, what is?

any help appreciated, thanks.

 

[waterdrop]

I am not an expert or even directly experienced with peat but it is my understanding from reading that peat, mesh bagged in the filter, is indeed an accepted way to lower the pH of a tank safely to some degree. It has been very popular with discus keepers. I believe there are some number of varieties of available peat.

The method that "goes beyond" peat is to use RO water (Reverse Osmosis) where a high-tech membrane inside a device filters out very close to everything from the water, removing its mineral content. The water is then added back in with a percentage of tap water such that the desired hardness/pH is acheived. Sometimes particular mineral content is added back in to RO water.

~~waterdrop~~