nitrite problems

[st3]

Tank:
48 gallon
Fluval 304
my friend is suffering severe nitrite levels in his newly converted saltwater aquarium (it was converted from brackish by removing 5 gallons of water a day and adding a cup of salt and mixing it in the bucket then pouring it back into the aquarium..) The conversion went over about 3 weeks.. the inhabitants (2 brackish snowflake moray eels and 2 spotted puffers) seem to be doing fine, except when we did a nitrite test yesterday, the nitrite levels were very high (the darkest pink on the hagen test). We did a 10% water change yesterday and another today, but the levels are still very high... is there anything we can do to try and lower the nitrite? BTW, we didnt test ammonia because his ammonia test is only for fresh water. We also added 3 lbs of live rock yesterday. If anyone has any suggestions, please help us thanks
st3

 

[puff(er) daddy]

IMO- Your going through a cycle and soon the nitrite should turn to nitrate. You should test the ammonia soon as possible to make sure it's not high. It shouldn't be since your nitrite is so high.

 

[fshhub]

that nitrite may be from the lr that was added yesterday
if it weren't fully cured(even if it was store bought, it may not have been fully cured before he got it

 

[ohscc]

If he truly didn't cycle the tank then I advise your friend to say away from saltwater tanks untill he reads some. You should never cycle your tank with fish in it. Nitrite is lethel to most fish and is cruel to your fish. Hopefully your fish will survive but make sure your friend does research first!