nitrites

nitrites are high and nitrates are safe what is the difference and how do we take care of the nitrites

Daily water changes will be the best way. John can explain the differences.

Water Changes are almost always the answer.

25% daily would be good till they come down.

Nitrate and nitrite are both compounds of nitrogen and oxygen, and ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen. Both ammonia and nitrite are reactive and dangerous to fish. When an aquarium is cycled, one species of bacteria turns the ammonia into nitrite and nitrate. An other type of bacteria then turns the nitrite into nitrate, and finally, a third type of cootie turns the nitrate into nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrogen is one of the main plant nutrients. Some plants will also metabolise ammonia directly.

Anyhow, the good cooties eat the bad cooties, and if you don't yet have enough good cooties you need to change some of the water to get rid of the bad cooties. Another thing you can do is avoid over feeding and over crowding, because the bad cooties live off fish, plant and food wastes.

Establishing a colony of beneficial bacteria can take a month or more. Live, floating plants and regular, partial water changes will help fill in the gap. Notice how i didn't mention cooties a single time in this paragraph?