First Planted Tank

[ejaramillo01]

The tank doesn't really have healthy levels to get back to, every time I do a pwc the nitrates go up a little higher and I have more fish die off. The longer I go in between pwc the lower the nitrates will be but obviously that's not a good solution. I've been doing pwc about once every 7-10 days, would you recommend even more than that? Do you have any experience with the nitrasorb pads? I have a refugium in my sump, I'm thinking about stuffing as many easy plants down there as I can. Any good nitrate absorbing plants that would thrive in medium light?

The frequency of the PWC looks good.
No experience with the pads, but I heard that they work.
Regarding plants: Java Fern, Anacharis, Anubias.

 

[Hubert90]

I've used nitrate absorb pad before made by API. It worked wonders at first but tends to lose it's effectiveness quickly.

 

[rcherry]

Even with recharging them in that brine solution? I hoped they would last a while.
Also, Im dosing with excel until I switch to pressurized co2. I know excel can melt anacharis, would it effect the others you mentioned?