IMO, its better to just let it run its course. The reason there is excess nutrients is because the bacterial cultures haven't caught up to the amount of food available. By reducing levels you are cutting back on their food and you may be preventing a mature microfauna to develop.

Of course this requires paitence. That's not something that most new tank owners have in excess. They'd rather throw raw shrimp in there and go buy damsels that they will regret forever.