Do plants really help to lower nitrates?

[Lund]

I heard that plants help to lower nitrates somewhat. So I bought 2 clumps of hornwart, and 2 clumps of cocomba. I chose these because the lfs owner said they were fairly easy to keep. Am I missinformed, or do they really help?

I have nitrates that range from 20-40ppm. I used to be around 40-80ppm, then I started using purigen and am now in the lower range. I cannot get any lower because my cities tap water comes out at 20ppm.

Any suggestions on plants or other options to get my nitrates to around 10ppm would be appreciated. I have done all I can think of. I have only two fish, a 10"pleco, and a 5" black ghost knife.

[Quartermain]

Plants consume ammonium (NO4) and nitrate (NO3) for nitrogen which is one of three "macro nutrients" vital to plant growth. Heavily planted tanks consume these chemicals faster than the fish and bateria can produce and so nitrate is ussually added as part of the fertilizer regimen. This is ussually done with KNO3 (Potassium Nitrate) but if your tap is 20ppm then that'll work perfectly.

[djlen]

What is the size of the tank? Lighting?
You may have to balance that N with some P.

Len

[John N.]

Java Moss and Najas grass will do the trick to consume excess NO3, along with fast growing stems like wisteria, hornwort (u got), and anachris.

-John N.