ammonia spike

i have just tested for ammonia in the tank and am getting a reading of 0.25-0.50ppm in 70g tank

rest of the readings are

nitrite 0ppm
nitrate 10ppm

i have not long ago added live plants to the tank (1 which i have been told is non aquatic)

last night i put in 2 half's of cucumber for the pleco's removed them
this morning with the middle missing so the pleco's are feeding

now what would have caused a ammonia spike

done a 50% water change as it was due today any way

the tank sits opposit a window but the other side of the room at least
14ft away from the window tho (but does get some sunlight on the tank)


tank has been established for 3 weeks now as it sit but was perviously housing oscars with the same filter for 2 years

dont know if this was the cause but just found a dead cory under one of the ornaments

not seen him for 2 days would this cause it ?

A rotting cory will do the trick for ammonia - I had the same thing a couple of months ago when I found a dead swordtail among the floating plants.

Your right to do the water changes and Id suggest to do it for a day or so more.

You maight want to (if its necessary) to not exactly ckean out the filters but make sure and do whatever to ensure the flow is good

Ive said it too often here and I think I deserve shares now but King British safe Water will rapidly get rid igf that ammonia as well

here is the ammonia test from the tap and from the tank
they both appear to be the same green sort of colour



nitrates are 15ppm ish and tap is 5ppm

Is it just me or do both of those look yellow??

i think they are yellow according to someone else tank is at 0.25 ppm ammonia

Yellow (on the right) is correct for zero ammonia - anything else is unwelcome - when you took the test from tank - you had a tad of ammonia

the yellows are slightly different and on my screen the left vial had a tiny hint of green tot he yellow