Wierd Ammonia Spike with Cloudy Water

[Scott1980]

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.

 

[AlonelyCody]

As for the cloudyness turn the light off don't feet for a few days and cover your tank with a towl so no light can get in. It has worked for me more than once.

if you have a whisper filter or one like it. when you change you filter don't throw the used one away. empty the carbon out and set the old filter behind the new one. that way your biologicals with go to the new one and your tank wont have to replentish itself. i found that is where a lot of my amona and other level spikes were coming from.

when you do your water changes are you adding water conditioner? freashwater aquarium salt?

I have live plants in my tank and it took a while for the levels to go down but after a few months of battling and water changes almost daily my tanks are fine. I had these fizz tablets for plants and every time i put them in my tank would get cloudy and stay that way for about a week. even with water changes.

i hope that any of this helps.

 

[Allivymar]

Cody asks some very important questions; when you are water changing, what are you doing with the filter is a good place to start.

Some other questions are, how many fish in the tank and what size? Have you tested your tap water? Are you treating your water before adding it to the tank? If so, with what?

My guess is, something during that water change killed off most of the nitrifying bacteria. We just need to figure out what; can you give us a step by step of what you did?

 

[Scott1980]

ok,

It's been a few weeks since I've posted on this, but I wanted to try somethings. I did take my old filter out last time, so I've left the new one in there for a few weeks. The tank is a 20 gallon tank. I've had ammonia troubles with it from day one. I have 3 Black Skirt Tetras, 4 Neon Tetras, One ADF, One Cory Dora, One Clown Pleco, One Flying Fox, I'd also like to get a Pakistani Loach becuase I've got snails, unless you have another suggestion. So I realize my tank is slightly over stocked because some of these fish can grow up to 5 inches. In the last few weeks, I've been doing 50% water changes every week and I've vacumed the top of my gravel everytime also. I just do the top centimeter since I have plant gravel (Eco Complete). My ammonia levels are still through the roof. It's a miracle my fish aren't dead. This just in I found out from my friend(who I bought the tank from) cleaned it out with Windex WINDEX!!!. Could that be the reason for the high Ammonia and if so how do I get it out. Oh and my filter is a Penquin Mini. I'd like to get a Canister filter but that's months down the road.

 

[Scott1980]

oh I did test my tap water with the drip kit, results came out crystal clear.
For my Water Treatment I use Ammo Lock 2.