Nitrite doesn't decrease

Hi all,
I am new to this forum and also to aquariums in general. I set up a new 20g tank about 6 weeks ago and I am getting a bit concerned about my nitrite levels not going down. My tank has 4 cherry barbs (2 males, 2 females). As for plants, I have 4 very small Java ferns, 2 sagittaria subulata and a couple moneyworts.

I have virtually no ammonia, but both nitrite and nitrate read high for weeks now (drop test). I have drastically reduced feeding for the last 4 days and also changed about 15% of the water, with no effects on nitrite/nitrate. The fish seem quite happy though, esp. after the water change (almost looking like mating) and I had no fish die in the process so far.

Anyhow, am I missing anything or shall I just wait?

Thanks for advice!

The long answer is in your other posting. If you have any ammonia, it's too much. Partial water changes (20 percent or so) will help. After six weeks the aquarium should have finished its nitrogen cycle, but maybe it hasn't. Did you check for ammonia before adding fish. Sometimes a new tank will have ammonia spikes until it is fully cycled.

Great, many thanks! I'll keep changing 20% of the water then. Didn't check ammonia before putting fish in, but never had much of it (now almost zero, I would sayfrom the colour code of my test kit). Anyways, I'll see what the water changes will do for the nitrite/nitrate.

Thanks again!