Wtf Happened Why Are They Hiding

[Spader]

well my platys are usually very active. today i removed one female cause it was pregnant. then i found out an amano shrimp somehow jumped out of my tank and walked to my sisters door then died. later onn i found another volcano rock outside, which i have 2 of in my fish tank already, so i cleaned it off with hot water and put it in my tank. i was careful btw. i come back now and i see my shrimp on the rock of course eating, but no fish! i look around. where the **** are they??!?!?! then i see one stick its head out behind a log decoration and i find the other 2 there. they wouldnt come out! so i took the rock out, and did a water change. then they all came out of hiding. i did a test and:
ammonia: .25
Nitrite:less then 40 more than 20 (eek)
Nitrate: 0
ph: 7.2

so i threw a tablet that removes ammonia and cholorine etc. well they seem fine now but im still worried. what couldve happened?

 

[WILDER]

Water stats are not good has the tank cycled, gone into a min cycle if not, have you been using meds, i would preform another water change, when did you last gravel vac, and do you overfeed the fish.

 

[Spader]

yes the tank has cycled, and i need a new cartridge as the old one is over used. also i have sponge that contains the beneficial bacteria. i did a 50% water change this morning (gravel vac). the ammonia is now 0. also everything except ammonia is tested by a strip and i over estimated on each to be careful. no meds have entered except a plant fertilizer tablet. the fish appear ok now. the boost in ammonia and nitrite were most likely caused by having to over stock for 3 days while i got a new tank as the old one was being used as a hospitial tank.

 

[WILDER]

Thats fine if you got stats down, good luck.

 

[Spader]

thanks for the help