Having some problems with pH and ammonia

[JoeRags3]

I've had some great water reading for a few weeks (all readings at 0 and 7.0pH) until last week when I noticed one of my bleeding heart tetras was ripped to peices; I removed the corpse, I did a 50% water change that day, cleaned some of the gravel with the python I have and added some amquel plus to help remove my excess ammonia. Since then I have had ammonia levels around 4ppm nitrites at 0ppm and nitrates at >5ppm ph of 6.6 (ph of my tap water). On Wednesday my reading were the same so I did a 25% water change and added another dosage of amquel plus. Today I tested the water again and my ammonia was ~ 1.5, Nitrites still at 0, Nitrates went up to slightly more than 5, but my pH dropped to 6.4. I tried adding some Jungle pH increaser but it did NOTHING!!
So my question is should I be continuing with the amquel plus to remove my ammonia? And what can I do about my pH? I have proper pH 7.0 but it makes my tank cloudy for 2-3 days.

 

[YuccaPatrol]

About the Amquel Plus and ammonia:

After using this product, your ammonia test will show positive for ammonia even though it has been deactivated by the Amquel.

You can add some crushed coral to your filter to increase pH naturally.

I've found that using those pH UP/Down products do not provide a stable pH over time and the fluctuations in pH are more dangerous to your fish than a pH that is not "ideal" for your fish.

 

[Gunnie]

I wouldn't add and ph changing type of products. You could possibly do larger water changes. As far as the ammonia reading, if you are using an ammonia test which goes from yellow to orange (it's a 1 part ammonia test), you will get a false positive when you test after using amquel plus or ammo lock. If you have a 2 part test which goes from yellow to green, you will get an accurate reading. What type of ammonia test are you using?

 

[JoeRags3]

My ammonia test is a two part (two separate chemicals) goes from yellow-0 to a dark green- which I believe is 5 I dont have it infront of at this time.

But I checked my water yesterday and everything as back to normal no ammonia and pH between 6.6 and 6.8 slightly accidic but still pretty neutral.

 

[Roan Art]

Two separate chemicals does not mean that it is a two step test.

Two step means that there are actually two tests in the kit. One for NH3 (free ammonia) and one for NH4+ (ionized only).

If the kit does not say that it checks for NH3 and NH4+ separately, then it is not a two step kit and, depending on the type of dechlorinator used, you could get a postive test for NH3 regardless of whether you are using a Nessler or salicylate test kit.

As an example, water dechlorinated with Prime will test positive for NH3 with both Nessler and salicylate kits.

Roan