Quote Originally Posted by reptileszz View Post
I am getting seriously conflicting info here. I was under the impression that too many nitrates were created after a nitrogen cycle had been established. Everyone says not to change the filter media. And I need to do daily water changes. And I dont use test strips. I have a brand new master kit from API. I dont know what to do. Your advice is completely opposite of what I have been told... Ugh. This sucks.
The only way to clean filter media is to rinse it out in old tank water. Changing media constantly is bad. Excess nitrates is better than ammonia and nitrite.. Your tank sounds cycled to me. You my need additional filtration but I am betting that something is not right in this tank.. Is there a dead fish or decaying matter of any sort present? Have you checked under decorations? Perhaps mix some bottled spring water in to your water changes if your tap has nitrates?