So I have a new but completely cycled fish tank, and right now I'm growing out a baby Oscar in a 30 gal before moving him to my 75. He is the only fish and I've been battling the ammonia in the tank and have no idea what the cause of the ammonia is; this is what I've been doing.
First off, I assumed the ammonia couldn't get broken down because my PH was too high from the hard water, so I softened the water and even have been doing frequent water changes with filtered purified drinking water about 3 times a week and I have been adding quick start and i have even tried stability but the ammonia keeps coming out at about 0.50. I clean up all the poop and gravel vacuum every time I do the water change and there's no uneaten food. On top of all that I tested for ammonia in the water I use for changes and there's none! I don't understand what is causing this ammonia, the filter is clean and the glass is clean, all the other water parameters are good please help.
First off, I assumed the ammonia couldn't get broken down because my PH was too high from the hard water, so I softened the water and even have been doing frequent water changes with filtered purified drinking water about 3 times a week and I have been adding quick start and i have even tried stability but the ammonia keeps coming out at about 0.50. I clean up all the poop and gravel vacuum every time I do the water change and there's no uneaten food. On top of all that I tested for ammonia in the water I use for changes and there's none! I don't understand what is causing this ammonia, the filter is clean and the glass is clean, all the other water parameters are good please help.