Nitrite, dead fish, bamboo

Question
Hi,
I currently have a six gallon tank.  It's a acrylic.  The filter is a stingray type for a ten gallon.  the substrate is glass and plastic rocks i use to form caves.  I also have live bamboo plants in the backround.  I tested the ammonia and the ph, both of which are fine, but the nitrite is high.  I don;t know why it's high.  A few years ago i remember cleaning the tank with windex but i've cleaned it since wiht aquarium products.  I did have hermit crabs in it prior.  Fish don't usually live past 3 days.  i really have no clue what to do...please help.  

Answer
Hello,

There are many reasons your nitrites could be high- overpopulation, overfeeding, toxins getting into the water, adding too many new fish at once, cleaning the filter media in tap water ect.

In order to fix the nitrites, you should immediately change 20% of your water and add a double dose of a denitrifier such as Cycle. During this time of crisis, you should continue to change small amounts of water each day until the levels return to normal. Maybe change about a cup a day. Once the levels are again normal maintain them by changing 15% of your water every week, syphoning the gravel, cleaning the algae off the glass and clean your filter media in a bucket of aquarium water when it needs it.

I hope this helps.

Good-luck,
From Stephanie