Recovering From Velvet/dead Fish/ammonia!

[Mikaila31]

About 3 weeks ago my blue ram in my 55gal tank developed velvet and since then I've been treating with coppersafe and have kept the tank dark. From what I can tell they have mainly recovered; so I've turned the lights back on, but I've still treating with coppersafe.

I was cleaning the tank today and sadly found one of my rummy-nosed tetras dead. It looks like he has been dead for a few days, I didn't notice he was missing with the tank covered. And I have no idea what killed him, he never contracted velvet and appeared to be healthy before he died.

Another problem is that even before they got velvet I had a ammonia reading of about 1ppm. I had added no fish to the tank for months. I have some amquel but I don't know if it was ever used on this tank. I've been monitering the levels for 3 weeks now and doing 45% water changes every week. There has been no change to the levels, its always about 1ppm. There also has been no readings of nitrite. Today I took a reading and the ammonia level went up to 1.5ppm, I'm guessing because of the dead fish. I'm thinking the reading of 1ppm is false but I still can't figure out where it is coming from. Any ideas?

thanks, Mikaila31

 

[WILDER]

How many fish and which type.
Make of test kit.
What type of filter.
Do you preform a gravel vac once a week.
Ammonia tap reading.
Tank nitrate reading, and tap nitrate reading.