Should I manually adjust my levels?

[PaulVerrall]

I have Malawi cichlids in with a blood parrot.
All doing great. I recently took all the decor out and put in a load of rocks In for them. My water levels have all been perfect but now my nitrate has climbed to between a fraction above 40ppm and my nitrite up to between 0.25/0.50.
My question is should I a) add chemicals to adjust b) do a water change, I do a 30% weekly, c) leave it in lieu of the rock going in and it'll sort it self.

Cheers guys

[Vale!]

The nitrate concentration isn't a particular worry ; but the nitrite is becominv so.

Do an extra (30%) water-change and monitor. If the nitrite creeps up again, further water-changes until you regain control.

[PaulVerrall]

Ok cool thanks, will do that now

[plankton]

The Malawis are veggies I presume?
The parrot will be a carnivore....
How are you feeding?

[PaulVerrall]

The Malawi's get a tablet that sinks and dissolves, it's made up of algae and veggie mix.
The parrot has his own food which is shrimp, blood worm and other stuff mixed.
Although both eat each others food?!

[Fishtales]

I was considering Blood Parrots for my 5ft tank if I keep it. However now it is likely I will need to keep my Cories in that tank. After watching a video of one eating a Rainbow Shark, they will not be joining them!

Blood Parrot eats Rainbow Shark!

They are deceptively cute looking to my eye. Lovely kept with the right fish though. Would love to see pictures @PaulVerrall

[PaulVerrall]

[PaulVerrall]

I was considering Blood Parrots for my 5ft tank if I keep it. However now it is likely I will need to keep my Cories in that tank. After watching a video of one eating a Rainbow Shark, they will not be joining them!

Blood Parrot eats Rainbow Shark!

They are deceptively cute looking to my eye. Lovely kept with the right fish though. Would love to see pictures @PaulVerrall

I'll try and get a better pic tonight, this was from the wife's phone.
I think it's a he but the wife is convinced it's a she. He has bundles of personality, eats from hand now and does lots of digging/rearranging of his tank!

[Fishtales]

I'll try and get a better pic tonight, this was from the wife's phone.
I think it's a he but the wife is convinced it's a she. He has bundles of personality, eats from hand now and does lots of digging/rearranging of his tank!

Looks beautiful Paul. Yes I read they have fantastic personalities. I love that you have built a relationship with yours. Feeding her (I will side with your wife here ) from your hand must give you such an attachment to her

Lol, nice that they are arranging the tank as they want it!

I can't believe the one in the video still looks all cute and sweet with a shark hanging out of its mouth! You are very lucky to have one, they are lovely

[PaulVerrall]

I'll try and get a better pic tonight, this was from the wife's phone.
I think it's a he but the wife is convinced it's a she. He has bundles of personality, eats from hand now and does lots of digging/rearranging of his tank!

Looks beautiful Paul. Yes I read they have fantastic personalities. I love that you have built a relationship with yours. Feeding her (I will side with your wife here ) from your hand must give you such an attachment to her

Lol, nice that they are arranging the tank as they want it!

I can't believe the one in the video still looks all cute and sweet with a shark hanging out of its mouth! You are very lucky to have one, they are lovely

Thanks, we all love Him! Lol
I never knew fish could be so clever and have such personality and character.
There's a YouTube video https://youtu.be/vVnE9o5Uxik
This is what we are hoping to achieve! A lot of places you read that people hate Parrot fish because they are a man made hybrid and not a real fish etc. That they are ugly! I think they are great! We are hoping to have another tank in 2/3 years time, a really large one that I wanted to go marine but at the moment we are thinking a colony of blood parrots lol