Help! All my test levels are high!

[irieboy]

I have a 14 Gallon Oceanic Biocube with 13 lbs of live rock. Everything was fine, then I did a water change today, and the levels were all off.
Ph=8.1 Ammonia=0.25
Nitrite=0.25 Nitrate=20
Calcium=375 DQH=12

I have done another water change and levels stayed the same.

Inhabitants of tank: Ocellaris Clown fish, 18 Mushrooms, Polyps, Green BTA,
Torch Coral, Camel Shrimp, Blood Shrimp, 6 Hermits, 6 Snails, 2 Emerald
Crabs, Anenome Crab & Featherduster--That split in half last night-(could this be the reason for the problems I am having?)
Please offer any suggestions.
Thanks.

 

[Moe_K]

Did you use tap water in the water change?

 

[MikeG]

Anything unaccounted for? Did you test your fresh made salt water to make sure that isn't the problem?

 

[irieboy]

Thanks

I used to use Sea Chem Seawater, and never had any problems.
I've recently switched to seawater from Skipton's.
Using both their RODI water and their
pre-mixed salterwalter.

Didn't think to check their levels before using it.

 

[stingythingy45]

Ammonia is really the ONE you need to control.
Was this water heated and how much did you change?

 

[irieboy]

any suggestions would still help the problem is still here.

 

[stingythingy45]

Is this tank cycled?

 

[irieboy]

yes its been up since jan.1st

 

[stingythingy45]

Sounds like your bacteria colony isn't keeping up with the bioload.If you can stave off the ammonia spike the bacteria should should catch up.
I would get a bottle of Amequel and follow the directions.And keep up with water changes.

 

[NateHanson]

I'm not aware of feather dusters "splitting in half" (meaning making two living creatures from one). When distressed they will sometimes pop their feathery top, and often die shortly thereafter. Perhaps what you're detecting is waste from a dying feather duster? Just a guess.

 

[irieboy]

Thats what I thought to; but I spoke with someone at sea creatures and they said that sometimes happens and instead of one I would have two,and while it split it still had it's head.

 

[irieboy]

Any more help i added Prime to the tank but it says that testing will still test the same. Any idea's on replacing the bioballs in the tank with liverock rubble, i've heard of this and curious if it works better than the bioballs. And if any one has read the featherduster thread I am still in the dark on that one also. Thanks again.