What are Nitrates and why do I want to get rid of them? Nitrates arise from uneaten fish food, rotting plants or other organic material breaking down in your aquarium. You generally want to keep your nitrate levels in the water low (lower than say 25 ppm) to avoid potentially poisoning your fish or other aquatic creatures. You can use a test like this strip one to figure out if you have any acceptable level of nitrates in the water.
Here at greenvibe.net we can’t forget about our underwater friends. Plants are great additions to most aquariums and can provide some safety and shelter for your fish friends to make them feel at home. Here’s a few of our favorite floating plants for your home aquarium. If you’re looking for plants specifically chosen to remove nitrates from your tank, you can check out our list of best aquarium plants for removing nitrates.