Put some live plants in my tank to see if they would effect my nitrate level and they did. I have had them for one week and my nitrate was 10ppm whereas it is usually up around 20ppm. Very cool stuff. Just hope my oscar doesnt eventually dig them up. Just thought i would share.

You can also put house plants in the top of your tank. That way just the roots are on the water.. And it has the same effect.. Catch Paul, he is the one who showed me...

i totally agree with that my planted tank is all zeros on that stuff and the fish seem to be happier too with more places to hid and what not

both submerge plants and the partial submerge can function
the same. but the partial submerge is more efficient in
removing nitrogen by-product in water. those little floating
mini lettuce (i don't know scientific name) can remove the nitrite
effectively too.