Will a peat filter soften water?

[lummox]

I've never tried peat, but this thread's got me curious. Might test it in my quarantine tank first. Don't wanna mess with my main setup if it's sketchy.

[dawnbyte]

Peat's old-school but effective. Just don't forget to boil it first unless you like random floaty bits in your tank. Ask me how I know.

[mirus]

Boiling peat? Didn't know that was a thing. Does it help with the discoloration too, or just the debris?

[tagword]

Boiling peat? Didn't know that was a thing. Does it help with the discoloration too, or just the debris?

Boiling reduces debris but won't stop the tannins. If you want clear water, you'll need chemical filtration like activated carbon. But then you're fighting the peat's softening effect, so it's a trade-off.