All you need to do is get a bucket put water in and stir in some peat and take a reading before and after, to see how quick the reaction really is. Of course the ratio to tank and bucket should be the same. For example, if you have a 10 bucket tank only put in the amount of peat that would have been in one bucket. So, if your using 10 cups for the tank just use 1 cup in the bucket. That is just an example you will not need 10 cups for your tank. Peat is great and fish some SA fish love and thrive well in tannins. My wild discus seemed to do well in peat water when I had those. I used it just because it looked more natural for wild discus, in planted tank.