Re: Peat Moss vs. Oak Leaves

["Chris Jewell" <chris@jewell68.freeserve.co.uk>]

Yup, both leaves and peat by their acidic water will reduce the kH, lowering
the buffering capacity of the water, which is its resistance to acidic
change. A very low kH will give a low resistance to change, and in a
"loaded tank", the acidifying action of fish, plants, filter bacteria and
decmposing waste can cause sudden drops in pH, aka the "crash". Well, thats
how I see it anyhow :)

The problem is that peat can also cause a crash (  as will oak leaves) if
left in the tank too long, as they will react with the dissolved minerals,
reducing the kH, and then start reducing the pH ( well, thats a bit
simplified but hey!), so it may be better to filter the water through peat
to get it to the required  levels BEFORE putting it in the tank. I can
filter my local water through peat and get 0 Kh and a pH well off the bottom
of test kits. My local water is soft to start with, if your taps produce
liquid rock then the effects may not be so pronounced.

Obviously, there is less risk of pH crash from bio load in a tank with a
pair of apistos in than a well stocked tank of community fish, and the
apisto's may welcomr the super soft acidic water, but the fluctuations and
sudden change can still be harmfull.

Peat can be excellent, aslong as its used with common sense.

As the saying goes, thats my 2 cents worth!
----- Original Message -----
From: William Vannerson <William_Vannerson@ama-assn.org>
To: <apisto@listbox.com>
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2001 4:39 PM
Subject: Re: Peat Moss vs. Oak Leaves


>>>My plan is to let a sack of one or the other either float in my power
filter, or just let the sack float in a bucket of water to be used in a
water change later.<<<

I can't speak from experience, but I would think that the oak leaves would
have a slower effect than peat on changing water conditions.  Peat has more
surface area and has physical properties that are more reactive.  Several
folks on the Killie Talk email list have gone into details on this subject,
so you may want to scan their archives as well (www.aka.org and follow
links).

As a practical matter, try putting a sample of both in separate containers
and track the changes in water over time.  This will give you a sense of how
your leaves (Southern Pin Oaks) reacts to your local water.  You could even
try putting some in a power filter and testing that as well.  But be
careful, a tank with a full bioload will act differently than an empty jar
or bucket.  Also, as you lower the pH, you also reduce buffering capacity so
it's easier to crash a tank.  (Hey!  Chemistry types, did I get that right?)

Lastly, I have some more info on the properties of oak leaves that I gleaned
from the book I'm reading.  I'll try to transcribe that info and pass that
on by next week.  Nothing dramatic, just more explanation on the chemical
make up of oak leaves.

Bill Vannerson
McHenry, IL
http://vannerson.home.att.net/



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