I'm going crazy with my tank.
My water is crystal clear, my fish are so happy and I have not noticed any un-usual changes with them. They eat, they poop, they play, they say hello to me. My PH is low 6.4 (i added some PH stuff to raise it), but my ammonia is sky high. It's at 8.0. I've already done a 50% water change, added ammo lock and the numbers are still the same. Do you think this is due to my tank being only 5 gallons and having two small goldies in there?

the filter is a Aqua-tech 5-15

Having added ammo lock, you have will still be getting a high reading but the ammo lock renders the toxic levels safe, you should be ok, however you need a bigger tank. I used it in an emergency situation once and quite honestly it left me stressed about the readings even with the knowledge that they were not toxic anymore.

The power filter you have (aqua tec 5-15) is just like the one that came with my aquarium kit that my Niece left with me. I had a single medium sized goldie in that 10 gallon and struggled constantly to stay on top of normal water conditions. It's hard to believe that one fish in that amount of water can pollute that much but you can't 'see' it happening. Until coming to this forum, I thought like many many do that all was fine. I quickly found out I had to do something quickly or I'd lose my precious little tank dweller. I also had to add a second power filter to that 10 gallon until a larger tank I purchased had completed cycling.

I completely agree with previous posts

Please don't add any more of the ammo lock!!

Another good thing is Stability from Seachem: beneficial bacteria used as per instructions or if there is Ammonia present to add it every day, so the bacteria are plenty to cope with the nitrogens.

Also regular waterchanges according to the test results.

I'm so confused. I thought Ammolock was a good product. I have the Ph Regulator from Seacham and I was putting that in, but my ph hasn't t gotten higher than 6.6. I think it's at 6.4 right now. As long as my little babies are doing well, playing, eating and flourishing (I can't believe how big they've gotten), then I'm not going to worry so much at this point. Maybe they are just strong little pet shop boogers who are used to the elements.

Your fish are most likely fighting off all kinds of infections, so you need to be careful with their environment. Don't meddle too much with the pH or anything, since something as small can make them go over the edge. And then the infection will flourish!!

Just keep an eye on the water quality, and change water accordingly, that should repair the levels naturally over time!
pH is a logarythmic scale, meaning that each point (for example: 6-7) actually is ten times bigger than the other! If you change it too suddenly, it won't be too nice for your fish in there. They're very sensitive to fluctuations in pH while they can tolerate a wide variety of levels as long as it stays constant!

That might work! It speeds up the cycle process incredibly much to introduce beneficial bacteria from a mature system Ask if you can have some filter media too!

Ammo lock is good but it comes with a pricetag in that you have to wait quite a while before it is purged from your system through multiple water changes. The frustrating part is of course every time you test ammonia you 'see' it appears high but it really isn't because it is 'locked' in a safe form. Don't worry about it now just carry on normally with usual water changes every week and in time it will level off again. I understand and went thru what you are to some degree, it will be ok You are doing a good job.

Hi,
Sounds like a plan!!!
See if you have high ammonia adding more beneficial bacteria to the filter makes sense, to "eat" the excess ammonia!
You're doing a great job and things will turn out good soon!

I decided to test my friends water prior to putting some of it and the gravel in my tank. Her ammonia is sky high. I did put the gravel in though and I added more beneficial bacteria directly to the filter media. Normally I've been just adding it directly into the tank.  I have another person bringing me gravel and some water tomorrow. I'll test her water first as well. The strange thing is, the Master Test kit says I'm at 8.0, the dipstick says I'm in danger and the seachem ammonia thing that hangs on the tank went from high alert to a light greenish blue. This is so confusing. I wish my little babies would tell me if it's bothering them.

I'm going out on Christmas eve day to pick up my new tank (I had to make arrangements with my father to borrow his ugly SUV)  . I am going to make sure this tank is cycled perfectly before I move my little munchkins into the big tank, but I'm so afraid that I'm not going to cycle it correctly.

Don't you worry about a thing, sweetheart. You're new tank will cycle beautifully, and your fish will be very very happy. I'm Glad you are getting a new tank, Please post pics when it's all set up!!

Do some research.  You might want a canister external filter?
My sister had a bio-wheel and the thing does clog up so you have to keep a close eye on it.
She went out of town and it stopped working and she lost some of her fish..
I really don't know anything about them.  I've never owned one.
My personal favorites are the aqueon power filters and the fluval canister filters.
Both are really easy to use have a great gallons per hour water turn over, are super quiet and cycle a tank with no problems!
Well that is a gorgeous tank!!  You will love it!

Between the Aqueon and the tetra EX ; I have the ex 45, the Aqueon is by far a much better filter.  It's GPH is higher and the tetra is just more flimsy IMO....cheaply made.  The filters are a pain to put in and pull out after you rinse them...they're just a pain, they don't fit right in the holder thing.  The Aqueon is sturdy and everything fits well.  The Aqueon does have the wet to dry trickle down effect but that doesn't make any noise once the aquarium is filled, at least mine doesn't.
There are alot of filters out there.  And it probably comes down to personal preference too.

Hello teetsymomo
I'm currently using the Marineland Emperor 400 I have 2 in my 75 gallon and one of each in my 55 gallon tanks. I like this filter so much  since I've been using it I never had problems with ammonia and nitrite.