How can i get the ammonia down Please Help

[PhillipL37]

I Need Help!!!
Im new to this and not sure what to do.
My 20 gallon tank is about 3 months old and I have 3 hatchet fish and 3 bleeding hearts. and one little guppy.
PH 7.6
Ammonia is way off at 8.0 the highest the test kit will read.
Nitrite is 0
Nitrate is 10
temp is 80
water is kinda cloudy white.
I got my test kit 3 days ago and I had all the same readings except nitrate was 5.
I changed 25% of the water that day
the next day the readings were the same. Changed 25% more.
Today only the Nitrate changed after a third 25% change.
How can i get the ammonia down and everything the way it should be.
My friend started a 55 gallon tank the same time I did and doesnt even have a filter or anything her water is crystal clear with about 30 fish and already having babies and not one fish has died.

 

[krytan]

Are you using a liquid test kit or test strips?
How often do you do water changes and how much?

 

[gcis]

What kind of filter are you using and what kind of filter media are you using? Have you recently added any substrate or fish to the tank and if so how many?

 

[PhillipL37]

I am using and Aqua Clear filter here is the discription (The patented flow control feature allows for customized filter performance. The media basket prevents water by-pass around the filter media maximizing filtration efficiency. The filter preserves beneficial bacterial creating a stress free environment for aquarium inhabitants and maintains clear aquarium water. Installation and maintenance are quick, easy and convenient. The filter comes equipped with AquaClear Foam, Activated Carbon and BioMax. In addition, AquaClear delivers an entire line of media including Zeo-Carb and Ammonia Remover exclusively designed for the AquaClear Power Filter)

My test kit is a liquid test kit and I havent added any new substate or fish and have been doing weekly water changes at 25% except now the last 4 days have been 25% per day.

 

[krytan]

Do you have leftover fish food in the tank after feeding?
Have you tested the water out of your tap?

 

[small-fish]

are all of your fish accounted for? there might be a dead one decaying somewhere causing the high ammonia levels

 

[PhillipL37]

all of the fish are there none are missing...

 

[PhillipL37]

Do you have leftover fish food in the tank after feeding?
Have you tested the water out of your tap?

I have not tested the tap water yet didnt think of that... there is a little food on the bottom but not much

 

[catnipgal]

What type of decholorinator are you using?

What is the ammonia reading on your tap water. If the tap water is high in ammonia, this might be part of the problem.

 

[krytan]

Leftover food will also brakedown into ammonia.