Ammonia and Nitrite At what level should I get concerned?

[Marshel]

55 gallon African Chiclid tank

History
Was running 2 HBO filters with a combined capacity of around 500 gph.

9-24: Added a new 520 gph canister filter.

10-13: 35% water change
removed 1 HBO
change filter in the other HBO
Ammonia 0+ ppm (normal)
Nitrites 0 ppm

10-14 Ammonia between .25 - .5
Nitrites appraoching 1 ppm
25% water change
Put the 2nd HBO back in service.
Nitrite .25 after water change

10-15 Ammonia 0+ ppm
Nitrites 0
Everything normal

As I understand it the Ammonia and Nitrite bacteria will only increase to the level that the food is available. Did I panic Oct 14th? At what level of Ammonia and Nitrites should I be concerned? If all filters are opperating at rate capacity, I am filtering at 1000 gph on a 55 gallon tank. How should I proceed in eliminating the HBOs?

[KevinVA]

Did you cycle your tank? It seems to me you haven't. Are you using some kind of ammonia neutralizing media?

[Marshel]

Did you cycle your tank? It seems to me you haven't. Are you using some kind of ammonia neutralizing media?

Tank was originally started 6-27-12. I used the fishless cycling method. By 7-17 I could bump the tank to 1ppm Ammonia and it would return to 0 within 24 hours. Was leaving for a 17 day vacation so I added 15 feeder guppies to keep the cycle going while gone. On 8-13 I made my original stocking of 11 African Chilids.

Not using any kind of special Ammonia neutralizing media.

Trying to eliminate the HOBs without endangering my fish.

[KevinVA]

If you take the cycled media from your HOBs and add them to your canister, it should provide for an instant cycle (thus, there should be no change in filtration capabilities). Do that and add more biological filtration (fill up the slots you have the cycled media in, and add more biological and mechanical filtration to the remaining slots, while removing any carbon.

Do this and you should be fine.