planted tank problem...need advice

buddah101

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 8, 2005
412
3
0
51
Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania
I have a 20 gallon planted tank. It's been running for almost a year and is cycled as far as I can tell. The only reason I doubt this is because that I am having a continuing problem with ammonia. My test results are as follows:

Nitrite~ 0
Nitrate~ 5.0
Ammonia~ 1.0 +/-
GH~ 2 / 35.8ppm
KH~ 1 / 17.9ppm
pH~ 6.8-7.0
CO2~ (aprox.) 4.755pmm

You see the problem? I do regular water changes and keep pretty good tabs on things but I just cant seem to find the problem unless it is decaying plant matter that I cant find? I know that my tank is not over stocked cause all I have in there is a Farlowella vittata catfish and a Bolivian ram. As for filtration I have a whisper mini with floss in it (junk) and a 606 minijet pump (I put floss between the intake and glass, also I run the CO2 line into the flow deflector).
I use a D.I.Y. CO2 generator (3 litre bottle)
Ant suggestions?
Oh, my tap water checks out too so thats not a factor.
 

piranha45

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Mar 30, 2005
2,982
13
68
kay
how long have you been getting these ammonia readings for? that does seem pretty bizarre.
 

rayman45

Team Rayman
MFK Member
Mar 30, 2005
7,515
20
0
33
staten island new york
try throwing another little filter on filled with ammonia chips

i did that on my 20L, it always had the ammonia problems stoped after 2nd filter
 

guppy

Small Squiggly Thing
Apr 15, 2005
11,582
87
0
confused, lost, and lonely
try adding a 10g under gravel filter
 
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