Ammonia problem

[Luna112]

Hello everyone
The tank in question is my 29 gallon with two Aqua Clear 50's and one 10 gallon filter.
My situation is as follows, I've had this tank for a little over a year now, same filter media inside filter, when I test the water with my API liquid test kit I always have .25-.50 ammonia, and 0 nitrates, PH and nitrate are always on level.
My fish:
1 Clown Pleco

2 Cory Cats

1 Oil Catfish

1 Upside-down catfish

1 spotted Raphael catfish(small)

1 clown loach(4inch)

3 yoyo loaches

2 glass cats

1 Golden dojo loach

2 serpae tetras

1 penguin tetra

3 cherry barbs

1 ghost knife(medium)

2 platys
Thanks in advance to your help

 

[BHead707]

i doubt it but it could possibly be your test, have u tried testing a source of water that is known to have no ammonia and compare results?

 

[Luna112]

No, I haven't but that's a good idea, like using r/o water?

 

[BHead707]

i just use my tap water,also have you added any fish recently?

 

[Luna112]

I thought tap water has a lot of ammonia?
No, no new fish.

 

[roundar]

The first question asked should have been, What's your pH and water temp?

EDIT: I may not read the response, so I'll just say that if your water temp is as high(I expect somewhere in the range of 76-80, making toxic ammonia even lower) as 85, and your pH is at or below 7.7, don't worry about it. You've got at most .019ppm NH3(Toxic Ammonia): Trace levels even small fish are not effected by. This is long established and I would recommend you check out some of these information sources.(The first one is from right here on AA, jetajockey)

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f12/your-guide-to-ammonia-toxicity-159994.html
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2008/0421JohnSawyer.htm
http://www.cnykoi.com/calculators/calcnh3c.asp
http://jas.fass.org/content/73/11/3485.full.pdf

In most cases, trying to get it to that theoretical 0 purely for the sake of "Playing it safe" is analogous to not stepping on cracks for the sake of your mothers back. That said, assuming your doing your standard water changes, the ammonia is probably coming from the tap.

 

[Luna112]

Oh, thank you so much! I'll read that link.
My water temp is 78-80
And my PH 7.0-7.2