Organic Sphagnum Peat Moss

Organic Sphagnum Peat Moss is the partially decomposed remains of Sphagnum mosses, harvested from cool-climate bogs. It's 100% peat with no additives. Its job is the water, not the look. Humic and fulvic acids leach out steadily, and in soft water it lowers pH and can slightly reduce hardness. Think of it as a chemical stand-in for Southeast Asian peat swamps, not a habitat-native material, since tropical peat swamps form mostly from rainforest wood and leaves. We run a full 250 g pack as a top layer over sand in our 22-gallon (83 L) Betta hendra tank, filled with rainwater. It has held a deep reddish-amber tint for 5 months without adding more, and our bettas show bright color and spawn regularly. It's for keepers of wild bettas and other softwater specialists.

Habitat Snapshot

Tannin Character: High (humic and fulvic) · Water Tone: Deep reddish-amber · Habitat Origin: Cool-climate sphagnum bogs (peat swamp chemistry stand-in) · Use: Top layer over or mixed with sand or filter bag · Breakdown: Long-lasting as a top layer; exhausted in about 4–6 weeks in a filter · Best For: pH reduction · Softwater · Wild betta and peat swamp biotopes · Preparation: Rinse + Soak · Use with Caution: Can drop pH sharply in rain, RO, or zero-KH water; test pH and monitor closely with Neocaridina shrimp, snails, and hard-water fish · Quantity: 250 g

Key Benefits

• Steady source of humic and fulvic acids
• Lowers pH in soft, rain, and RO water
• Deep reddish-amber tint that lasts
• One pack dresses a 20-gallon tank

How to Use

Rinse in a fine strainer to remove dust. Soak in rainwater or RO water for about 48 hours, or until it has absorbed the water and sinks. Boiling for 25 minutes is optional and speeds this up. Top layer: Spread about 110 g per 10 gal (38 L) over the sand. A full 250 g pack covers roughly a 20–22 gal (75–83 L) tank. Go gently during water changes, because the peat clouds the water if it's stirred up. Filter bag: Start with a small handful in a fine mesh bag and replace it every 4–6 weeks. Add it gradually and test pH for the first week, especially in rainwater or RO water.

Best For

Soft, low-KH blackwater and peat swamp biotopes with wild bettas (Betta hendra and other softwater species), Parosphromenus, Caridina shrimp, and blackwater rasboras and tetras. Not recommended for hard-water community setups without careful monitoring.

Please Note: Not for human consumption. Preparation required. Because this is a natural product, size, shape, color, and texture will vary from piece to piece.

Let the botanical become part of the system. The value is in the slow breakdown, biofilm, tannin character, habitat texture, and natural behavior it encourages. This is where sunken forests come to life.