Is 0.25 Nitrites Level Accectable??

[DavyKOTWF]

I put in some live plants into my 20g tank that has 6 fish. When I do a water change every other day, 15%, tiny little pieces of one plant swirl all over the bowl, then settle.

1) My nitrites are now 0.25 and ammonia 0.50. Is that acceptable?

2) Could the new plants with pieces scattering everywhere cause the nitrites and ammonia to go up?

After each water change, I've put Seachem Prime in with the new water.

 

[SaraB]

If the plant pieces are rotting it can cause ammonia to go up. You want your ammonia and nitrites to be at 0.

 

[Barliman]

The only other thing I can think of is a dead fish or snail you haven't found, or maybe a false positive from the Prime.