Is My Fish Food A Bad Choice For Good Water Quality?

[Midas]

I have been having trouble keeping the ammonia out of my tank.  I have ruled out just about everything except the food.  I have large South American Cichlids.  I feed them Tetra Cichlid Jumbo Sticks.  The fish love them but I am thinking maybe this is causing the poor water quality.  I also give my pleco 1 wafer of Pure Aquatic Algae Feast a day. 
 
Does anyone know if this could be the issue?  I usually give them 3-4 sticks each to eat, once per day.  If this is the case what would be a better choice?
 
Thanks, this forum is great!

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Is your tank cycled?
 
It could just be a matter of your bacteria not being big enough to handle your bioload.

 

[Midas]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/425660-think-i-got-myself-into-some-trouble/
 
Well I think so, I posted this when I moved a couple weeks ago and the Nitrates are still quite high.