If your water was cloudy, that was a bacterial bloom. Bacteria are living things, when they die, the break down and this creates ammonia.
Many things can throw off ammonia test results. Any amount of iron in the water, any turbidity, high level of nitrate are a few examples.
I recommend Dr. Tim's One and Only because I have a pretty good idea what is in it and have read the research papers published about the bacteria being used. If I had a desire to buy more than the nitrifyers, I would likely also buy his. Especially since he holds patent rights to some of the nitrite bacs.
Next, some of the heterotrophic bacteria can out compete the nitrifiers for oxygen and even ammonia.
I am amazed at what folks are willing to pour into their tanks without really having any idea what is in the bottle. If you can not determine/understand what it is, how it works etc. why use it?
And not all bacterial products refuse to reveal what they contain. I only refuse to use those which do not.
-If what is in the bottle is protected by a patent, revealing it is poses no risk.
-If what is in the bottle is something cheap and easy to find, revealing it means you would know you are being played.
-If what the bottle contains is the wrong kind of bacteria, revealing it means buyers would know it was not useful.