i nees some help my plants do not grow

[fischkopp]

can you use Peat moss if you have fish in the tank?

yeap, people add it to the filter to get the black water effect you find in some amazonas rivers - so its ideal for many south american setups. It tints your water yellowish brown and makes it a bit more acidic. It is also used as bottom layer in planted tanks, again to provide acidic conditions that most of the plants prefer.

You can buy small packs in any LFS or just get the bulk for a better price from the gardening center just rinse it a bit and it will be fine ...

[apuppet]

following what fischkopp said,  peat does work. and does drop the ph. im runnign a amazon tall tank, and i think my neon tetra is trying to spawn,  crazy activity at the bottom of tanks.    Peat does brown the water careful if thats not what you want.  i got my peat from walmart,  ~4$.  filled stocking(dollarstore) and it simply works.

-a

[kennyman]

I also have peatmoss as part of my substrate as well as a filter media. It is a substitute for accumulated organic matter in the sediments of aquatic ecosystems as well as duplicating the effect of decaying plant material leaching into the water from surrounding landmass.