"Tom B." wrote in message
...
I have done some research on this topic and I have realized how much of a
loaded question this was. I am going to basically figure it out for myself
by doing what I always have and then changing one thing at a time (as much
as possible). I have high (~40PPM) nitrates but other than that I think my
tank is doing great since I switched to a Fluval 204 filter. I wanted an
Ehiem but I don't have the $$.

Anybody have any idea why my nitrates are so high? Nitrates have pretty
much
been rock steady where they are since I started testing the water. Nothing
I
do seems to help. I tried large water changes, lots of plants, and feeding
less. I also tested my tap water and it is around 5PPM, bought a completly
different test kit and same results. I'm thinking I might remove a piece
of
driftwood and plant even more.

If you're fertilizing and the nitrates are steady, then you've reached a
balance between the plant consumption and filter generation of nitrates. To
reduce them just use water changes until you reach 5-10 ppm nitrate. Any
lower and the plants may suffer.

If you have a balance at that level be happy :-) To increase plant growth
you would need to add more light and CO2, then again search for the balance
that you now have.

Graham.