how to keep nitrates down?

[Menagerie]

Higher wattage is great, but then you get into new light fixtures and expensive bulbs and that's where I get lost. I was trying to work with what you probably already had.

 

[leesanhua]

all right. i got it. one more Q. the plants are not suppose to plant it on the gravel filter?

 

[Menagerie]

You have an UGF? Some plants will just float at the top, some you can tie to a piece of driftwood and they will root over time. I don't keep plants, but this is what I know from being on this board too many hours a day

I would keep the plants away from the UGF if that's what you have.