I don't understand why the removal of the bio rings and ceremic rings will cause a drop in the nitrate level. Y will they be nitrate factories?
From what I understand, these things contain the bacteria to convert the ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate. High nitrate level will be due to high ammonia. As such, by removing these bacteria, aren't you trying to reduce the amount of ammonia to be converted? By removing bio rings and ceremic rings, won't this increase the ammonia level?