Water Quality problems in established tank

[Freshwater Tim]

125 gallon tank that has been set up for 7 years. 2 XP 3's- one with foam in the bottom tray and bio media in the other two trays. The other with foam in the bottom, Bio media in the middle and carbon on top. All media is always cleaned in tank water.Koralia 4 powerhead. 25% water changes done weekly mixed in 5 gallon bucket with prime before adding to tank

I have had a Silver Aro for the past two years till he got too big. So when I got rid of him I decided to make a change in the tank so I got rid of my 7" Ornate, 5" common Pleco and my two large Bala Sharks.

I now have
3ea 1-2" surinam geo
3ea 2" heckelii
1ea 1" armoured bichir
1ea 6" nile bichir
1ea 4" Vampire Pleco
1ea 3/4" Bristlenose Pleco
1ea 1.5" Mono Peackock Bass
2ea 4.5" Silver Dollars

All fish except the silver dollars and the Nile are new in the last 60 days

Levels in the tank before the new fish
Ph 6.8
Ammonia 0 mg/l
Nitrite 0 mg/l
Nitrate 20mg/l
Gh < 20mg/l
Kh < 10mg/l

Now
Ph 6.8
Ammonia .25mg/l
Nitrite 0mg/l
Nitrate 5mg/l
Gh <20mg/l
Kh <10mg/l
All tests done with API liquid test kits

OK...so I over fed the fish stupidly trying to power feed the Mono which spiked my ammonia up to 1.0mg/l. This happened about 3 weeks ago. I immediately did a 50% water change which brought the ammonia down to .50mg/l. Next day I did a 30% water change which brought the ammonia down to .25mg/l.
I have been doing a 30% water every day since then, but my ammonia will not budge from .25mg/l.
All my fish seem to be acting normally except the Nile Bichir who swims frantically up and down the glass...has injured himself a couple of times...nothing major, but he is usually quite sedate. (I have had him two years) ALL fish are eating. I feed them 2 times a day alternating frozen and pellets of differint kinds.
I know the prime converts any ammonia to non toxic ammonium and that is what the test results are pobably showing....but how the heck do I get ammonia levels back to zero?
I am testing daily and the levels show above are consitant.

I just want the Ammonia level back at zero and my nile to quite being a freak!!

Any ideas? Should I just go back to the weekly water changes and watch the Ammonia?

 

[calioutlaw1a]

How recently did you purchase your API test kit? Try testing your tap water to see what those parameters are. I have a feeling your tap water will read exactly as your tank reads now, showing that your test kit is a dud.

I say this because I just purchased a new API test kit, and I had the exact same readings as you:

Ammonia .25mg/l
Nitrite 0mg/l
Nitrate 5mg/l

This was frustrating me because after multiple water changes, filter cleanings, and sand cleanings it remained the same with no explanation. So I then tested another tank and got the exact same readings. I then tested my tap water and again, got the same readings. Maybe API put out a bad batch of test kits?

It seems that our kits are able to read increases in ammonia, but will not go below 0.25mg/L. It also seems that the nitrate reading is stuck at 5mg/L no matter what.


I'll be contacting API soon to figure out what is going on, and perhaps get a refund if possible.

 

[Freshwater Tim]

Tried testing the water for ammonia...came out with a result of 0mg/l

Have tried my other Hagens liquid test kit for ammonia, that goes from 0mg/l to the next reading which is .5-1mg/l...it too comes out with a slight tan color which is somewhere between 0 and .5mg/l

 

[calioutlaw1a]

Well that is strange. Can you think of anything that may have disturbed your bacterial colony?

Try greatly reducing the feeding for a couple days.

 

[Freshwater Tim]

Cant think of anything at all...was thinking the amount of fish now compared to before...but my Aro was 2 feet long as was just a poop machine along with the 2 Balas that were both 8" long....thet all made alot of crap...

I appreciate the suggestions...I have dropped the feeding down to one small feeding a day...It's tough tho because the Bass is just a baby and womt accept pellets yet. Only blood worms. If this keeps up I will make it every other day.

Can't figure this one out!!