peat

[jollysue]

One of the fellows at lfs suggested I use peat sheets (don't remember what he called them) purchased at gardening supplies under the substrate, rather than the filter. Yhe plants then root right into it.

He told me to ask you.

 

[zig]

All you need to know about peat HERE

Personally i wouldnt use it for a planted tank, it lowers the ph, and if you want to use co2 it makes getting correct readings difficult as the ph may flucuate over time.

It also reduces the hardness of water by absorbing calcuim and magnesium, both of which plants need as macronutrients, so i wouldnt add to much.

Some people use a handful of peat as an activator under new substrates such as flourite, it seems to quicken the maturing process for the substrate, when i say handful i literaly mean a sprinkling not very much at all.

But having said all of that i have never tried it.