I've changed the thread title as I'm also trying to find out if granulated peat products, are the same as (and therefore an acceptable substitute for) loose peat moss in terms of nutrient content, humic/fulvic acids and CEC. Does anyone know?
A few of the peat products I've seen:
Peat Granules provide an all-natural way to soften aquarium water and achieve the pH levels required for breeding and rearing certain tropical fish. Peat contains humic acid, tanning agents and trace elements that are essential for various life processes. Highly concentrated and compressed for...
fluvalaquatics.com
Reduces carbonate hardness + pH value, prevents growth of algae, addition of natural humic subst.: active peat pellets
www.jbl.de
Depending on which type, chemical filter media control the pH-value and the water hardness (peat) – or reduce the phosphate level and inhibit the…
eheim.com
The idea being these will be easier to handle and use, and easier to contain under a sand top layer, than the light loose gardening peat.
My plan would be a mixture of crush lava rock, the Florapol above and the peat granules as a nutrient rich base layer, but I'd welcome suggestions of alternatives?