Problem with Ammonia and nitrate

[iloveswfish]

I am having a problem with the Ammonia and Nitrates. I have a 55 gallon and the tank is 5yrs old. I went to the LFS and they told me to use Prime I used it and it brought down my Nitrate level. But I also used instant Ammonia remover by Dr's Foster and Smith and I noticed that some of my corals closed up especially my waving hand and my Leather. I did 2 water changes.

Any help will be appreciated

Levels:

Ph - 8.3
Kh-10
Phos-0.25
Nitrite-0
Nitrates-was 5.0 now 0
Ammonia- between 0.25 and 0.50
Calcium - 400

 

[dman3572]

Have you had your water tested lately? Ammonia and many other things can be in there. Check your ro system to make sure it's doing its job properly.

 

[iloveswfish]

The ro water is fine that is the first place I checked when I realized I had a problem

 

[dman3572]

Added any new equipment to the tank recently? There could be some chemicals on it being released into the tank causing it.

 

[iloveswfish]

Part of the problem is when the ammonia went up I lost 2 fish and my toadstool died, and I can't find my mini carpet anemone so all that I think is the issue.but with all the coral and rock I would never find them anyway. This tank is 5 yrs old and I have never had such a problem like this before

 

[dman3572]

Haha that's weird. It's probably decomposing in some nook or cranny that It crawled into and couldn't get out

 

[iloveswfish]

I will never find it... I just checked the ammonia again after I used the instant ammonia remover from Dr's foster and smith and it is at zero. I just hope my waving hand coral come back it doesn't look good.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What kit are you using to test for ammonia, and have you seen it read lower recently? Some kits, like the API, often suggest slightly elevated levels when it may not be.