Yes it was nitrite I have the problem with. The chart I use has the level as 4.0 which I think is different to the ppm you referred to. But according to my chart it is as bad as it gets . Thanks for your advice though, it helps a lot. I have only had my tank three weeks so it is still establishing the nitogen cycle. I have just done a 50% water change and will measure the level again in a couple of hours.
If it doesn't get any better I may just have to use rain water or something, there is plenty of it around at the moment I will get there in the end, its just a huge learning process and I haven't found a really good book with all the answers yet. Thank goodness for this web site and others.