Quote Originally Posted by mpmistr View Post
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?
i thought about death in the tank, but if anything was decaying, ammonia should be off the charts. i put a distress call out in my planted tank forum. tried getting a hold of a buddy of mine that maintains tanks in the NJ state aquarium, but he's not answering right now.