Ammonia Level

[Scunny]

im new here guys so forgive me if i've done something wrong.

I've got a 55litre tank which currently has 4 bronze corys, 9 zebra danios, and a Male Betta in. All these are doing perfectly fine, i've had no recent deaths, and there all eating well and active.

However my test readings are as follows;

PH-7.5
KH-240 ppm
GH - 180ppm
Nitrates - 20ppm
Nitrites - 1ppm
Ammonia-3ppm

As you can see my ammonia levels are worryingly high, and they've been like this for a few days now. I've done frequent water changes, and have been using ammo-lock on alternate days (second dose this morning). My ammonia levels havent changed at all, so i was wondering what else i should do?

I read elsewhere that it would be a good idea to stop feeding them for a few days. Is this a good idea?

I'm also slightly confuzed about ammo-lock. I've read in various places that ammonia will still show on water tests even when the ammo-lock is working. So how do you tell if it has lowered the ammonia levels.

Any help that any of you can offer will be greately appreciated.

Thanks

 

[rsands]

was the tank ever cycled? Or is it only running? Ammo-lock can only withold the ammonia so much i have heard.

You need to do large water change...50% straight away to get ammonia down.

Do water changes twice a day until the ammonia comes down and the nitrites. Once the 50% change takes affect it should drop a bit..test few hours after the water change. Next morning if its still high do 25-30% in the morning and again at night if still no improvement

 

[Scunny]

i've done two 50% water changes recently and after testing afterwards there was no differance. Should i continue and do another then?

Thanks.

 

[WILDER]

Small water changes no more than say 25% it slows the cycle down.
Increase aeration as that helps in a cycling tank.