by stilllearnin on Wed Nov 27, 2002 2:03 am
Buy one of the big bags (blocks) of peat moss,it's alot more then you need but it's only like $5 a bag,it's finely chopped (looks sort of like dirt) and put some of it in a nylon that'll keep it from flowing through you tank.
The long (moss looking) peat moss is hard to get ahold of but it does work the best I don't know if a place like home depot will order it for you but a nursery will.
Orchid moss (sold in small blocks at places like home depot) will also work it's only like $5 for a small block,it just doesn't work as well as peat moss for some reason.
Spagnum moss works to just as good as peat moss BUT it's expensive!and you have to read it real careful becuase most spagnum is made for decoration and moisture retaineing and is treated with fungisides and other chemicals.
The other options are a chemical like "blackwater extract" or MAYBE clean dead leaves? I'm not sure if dead leaves would work, BUT the main thing with peat moss is it breaks down and adds organic material to water seems like leaves would do the same job naturally I think it would just depend on how fast they would break down on how much they'd actually work.