new tank needs help

Don't freak out yet!

It sounds like your tank isn't completely finished cycling yet, because you don't have enough nitrite-eating critters in there to handle the load yet. Just keep up with the water changes (to keep your fish comfortable), and this should straighten itself out in a week or so.
 
It's like this you know your bed sheets, well when they are nice and fresh you feel good and can sleep well, when they are all nasty and icky ( if you know what I mean) you cant sleep and it's just nasty.


It's the same way as the fish, clean water = healthy fish and healthy tank dirty water = sick fish, and problems.

Now if you think I am crazy :D shove it
 
Add a teaspoon of salt (any salt, don't believe the myths and waste your money on expensive "aquarium salt").

It reduces the toxicity of the nitrite.

Once the tank is cycled, let the water changes dilute the salt out.
 
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