nitrate

so let me get this right if i have a planted tank the nitrate will stay low right and how many water changes a week should i do

Growing plants will absorb nitrate. How much depends on the number of plants and how quickly they grow. A heavily planted tank with good lighting should readily absorb nitrate. Bear in mind though the fast the plants grow the more water you will need to change to replace minerals and trace elements as well as balance fert levels.

Number and size of w/c's will also depend heavily on stocking levels.

I have quite a few plants in my tank but I left it a week without a wc and my nitrate still went up a considerable amount unless you have a forest i would still keep up with the wc.

Leanne

What sort of growth do you get from the plants Leanne?

Not a great deal actually Trebs I have a potted amazon sword thats quite pathetic and a big piece of planted driftwood with two different types of plants on it but not sure what and a couple of odd plants here and there.

Leanne

I'm guessing the plants on the driftwood are anubias. These and swords grow reasonably slowly. It not so much how many plants but more a case of how much they are growing. Something like stricta/hygrow (spelling/species?) or wysteria can grow 15-20cm in a week under moderate light once they are established. Might be a worthwhile experiment to try some of these in addition to what you already have and see how the nitrates go.

I'll post a pic tomorrow Trebs they're are two types on my driftwood a small one and a bigger one the smaller ones growing but the bigger one is a bit yellow.

Leanne