Fighting nitrate

[Ruth]

I was squeezing the bejeezus out of them in new mixed salt water - that is why I did it every time I changed water - I would just make up an extra gallon for rinsing. At any rate I have scrapped the sponges as I think that they might have been my Nitrate trap. I am pretty sure with all the chaeto and mud plus my skimmer my water is flowing through enough "stuff". I left (for now) the sponges in my overflows that fit over my return pipes and will continue to rinse those at every water change. Any recommendations Beverly of what I might be doing better?