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I have a 30 gallon hex tank which is maybe a month old.

I have 2 parrot cichlids, 3 convict cichlids, and the algae eater in the tank. My levels started out ok as per the petstore.  But now I am testing myself and my nitrite levels are "toxic".

My nitrate levels had been zero, but today they jumped up to 40. But I believe thats normal when the tank is creating the biological filter. 

The most disturbing part is that for the last week or so I have been trying to get my nitrite levels down from what the test kit indicates are "toxic" levels.  The fish seem fine and are not having problems breathing or anything.

The rest of my levels are:

Nitrate: 40
Nitrite: 10
Hardness: 120
Alkalinity/Buffering Capacity: 80
ph: 7.2
Amonia: 0

I have a penguin bio wheel filter 150 (for 30 gallon tank). (Which has the two carbon filter inserts).

I tried: Prime, Stress Zyme, Stability with no change in nitrite (all of these by the way say that they rid nitrite).

I have tried doing 20 - 30% water changes every two days. I also vaccuum the tank at this time.  My tap water actually tests within safe levels according to the Mardel kit.

The Mardel 5 in 1 test kit said to add MarPlex to remove amonia for the nitrite levels, but from what I read afterwards, ammonia doesn't have anything to do with nitrite levels, and my ammonia levels were testing 0.  So I bought another nitrite test kit which only tests up to 5.0, and it's right there.  So that kit told me to add Stress Zyme, use nitra-zorb, and aquarium salt.  So I removed one of the carbon filters in the filter and placed the nitrazorb in there.  I noticed a slimey build up in the filter when cleaning, so I rinsed that out. I think I might have screwed up doing that. And my nitrite levels are still the same.

Hi, JNord, and welcome to the forum!  Sounds like your tank is still "cycling".  For an explanation of that term, check out this thread:  http://oscarsfishtank.com/discuss/index ... ic=16962.0

So far what you've done is mostly correct.  The aquarium salt doesn't get rid of the nitrite, but it does detoxify it, as do some of the other chemicals you mentioned.  If you're adding the salt, you can skip the other stuff -- at least for the nitrites.  I'd skip the Nitra-Zorb altogether.  The water changing is good, but that much gravel vacuuming might be a bit excessive, especially till all your bacteria are up to strength.  Another week or so, and you'll probably be fine. 

One thing that concerns me is the 40ppm nitrates with all that water changing.  Take a careful look at your feeding regimen.  Try to feed no more than they'll eat in about 5 minutes.  Otherwise the decaying food adds to your problems.

Good luck, and keep us posted!