Overstocked/overfeeding = High Nitrite Levels?

[vinylman]

i would if they didnt look so happy

they nibble at my fingers and the plec comes and stares me out if it hasnt had a cucumber for a day

Unfortunately, you won't see any internal damage being done by their exposure to ammonia and nitrites.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Cycling with fish in this way I consider to be rather cruel as you have obviously bought them as disposible tank cyclers rather than fish you intend to keep eventually. If you were going to keep them then you would make far more effort to ensure they were as comfortable as possible by doing regular water changes to keep levels of poisonous ammonia and nitrite down. Please fishless cycle if you are going to cycle a tank again and as mentioned above there is really no reason to keep those fish if they are not staying long term so I would advise that you buy some ammonia and a dropper then donate them somewhere.