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Hello all,
I seem to be having a sort of problem with my nitrite levels in my 55 gallon tank. I keep getting a reading of 5.0 using jungle test strips. This is odd because at this level my fish should be showing some signs of discomfort if not death. Though, on the contrary, all their colors are vibrant and they are active and behaving normally. I just did a third water change yesterday after cleaning the rocks and have been adding prime to the water to try and neutralize the nitrite, but I have seen no change in the levels. Is it possible my test strips are wrong?, or could the water change be causing a nitrite spike? I'm hesitant to do another water change so soon because I don't want to stress the fish out anymore than necessary, but on the same note I don't want them to die either.

I have:
6 cherry barbs, 6 pristella tetras and 3 white clouds all between .75 and 1.5 inches (over half are under an inch)
2 rainbow sharks at about 2.5 each
3 corydoras at about 1.25 each (soon to go into an 18 gal)
2 algae eaters at 3 inches (one is going into my 18 gal)
and 2 botia loaches at 2 inches
The barbs and white clouds may be moving soon as well.

Any input would be most appreciated, Thanks ^^.

It is possible, and actually most likely that your test strips are wrong. Test strips are terrible.

I'd take a sample over to your LFS in a sterile container, and have them test it while you shop for a nice liquid test kit.

How new is this tank?

We got the tank before Christmas and ran it for a week with the white clouds circulating the water before we added any other fish. Our levels were all perfect until we added our two loaches and started using a new brand of strips for an 'established' tank. My concern now is that I've added too much of this Prime stuff (I've added five times the normal dose, which it says may be necessary) to the water and made it unsafe in that way. My rainbows and one of the loaches are starting to 'pant' a little, in addition to the test strip now reading a 10.0. I definately will be getting a good test kit soon and take a water sample to be double checked.

well, seeing as it's been set up since christmas, that does put it in the perfect tiemframe for a major nitrite spike, your strips may not be as off as we think. You seem to have added too many fish in too short of a period. Keep up on the small, frequent water changes to keep it diluted, and get it tested with something reliable asap!

Hai. Since my strips say my fish should all be dead right now, my levels must be higher than normal, so should I attempt another water change later today and see if that helps? Or should I wait until I can get an accurate test on a water sample and then do a water change provided the readings are abnormal? I still think it's odd that everyone is still so happy and well-colored considering what the strips are saying. Thank you for all your advice so far. ^^

Considering the amount of fish you have, the timeframe in which they were added and when the tank was set up, i'm sure you have some, or the test strip wouldn't have done anything,but i doubt it's as high as it's eluding to. I'd do a small change just in case, and get a good test kit asap

do a small (10%) water change and get a different kit. test strips are largely unreliable. I hate them. Do remember, though, that test results WILL vary from test kit to test kit. the readings I got from my test strips were way different that those I got from my master water test kit. They take a bit more time to do, but the results are a lot more accurate.