Cloudy Water and Wierd Ammonia Spike

[Scott1980]

This spent two days in the unhealty tank forum and didn't get any help so mabey there's someone who can explain this to me. I can't figure out why in the World I got these wierd Ammonia Spikes. For the last few weeks, it's been fine. Since I started testing it. I've been having trouble with cloudy water though again. Last time this started a few months ago my ammonia levels jumped then. Well yesterday, my Ammonia was fine. I did a 50% water change. Woke up this morning, the water was still cloudy and ammonia jumped dramatically. I've got a Clown Loach that seems the first to be suffering. Any suggestions would be apprecated, as there's obviously a reason for the cloudy water and spike in Ammonia. Here are my levels as of right now.

Ammonia 4.0-5.0 (That was done with the drip kit)
PH 6.8-7.0 (also with the drip kit) This is unuasual considering my PH seems to always run on the high side.
Nitrite 3.0
Nitrate 40

So All of my levels aren't where they really should be. I've been in the process of making this a planted tank. I've just added a Hagen CO2 system like one hour ago so it hasn't started working yet.

 

[William]

How old is the tank?

Don't use dipstick tests, Get the chemical test.

If you have any fear of ammonia do a 30-50% waterchange since your readings are so high, Keep in mind that dipstick tests can be drasticly wrong, But its best to play the safe side so do a large water change to get any ammonia or nitrates down to acceptable levels quick, like now. specially since you have fish that are visibly suffering.


Have you added anything new to the tank other than the Co2 system?

Any chems? Also be aware that Dechlorinators will cause false readings on ammonia tests, dipstick or chemical, for up to 24 hours.