Follow-up to Ammonia/NO2 Levels

[theSaj]

Well, tested my levels yesterday (this a week and a 1/2 after water change) Ammonia levels are low again. So are NO2 levels.

=)

So it would appear that clog was a large part of the problem, essentially, my canister filter wasn't doing much.

NO3 levels are still rather high though....
(what lowers NO3 levels? suggestions?)

 

[RedTurquoise]

Nitrates are removed by plants and water changes!

 

[theSaj]

Okay, in that case, I have lots of plants, but 70% have been uprooted and are current floating, my next water change I am going to reset and use some non-toxic weights...

(now plants need nitrates and phosphates correct? if I have high nitrates should I add phosphates for added growth?)

 

[luvfishies]

No, you should do waterchanges to keep the nitrates at or around 15ppm. Adding phosphates will only cause an algae bloom at this point.

 

[theSaj]

Could the plant fertilizer be adding to my high nitrates?

(it's the standard liquid stuff)