Amonia

Question
Hi Lynda!
You helped me alot about a month ago when my son lost his corys...It took us awhile but we established a tank with 3 peppered corys and 3 black skirt tetras. The tetras have been in there 2 weeks. The corys, one week. We get the water tested weekly by someone who has proved to be very helpful. When we went in today, she wasn't there and a admitted "newbie" did our test (with the strips, not the test tube). She said that the amonia level was "almost harmful". Now I'm worried. I did a tank cleaning on Thursday where I removed all the decorations and scrubbed them down with clear water and vaccuumed 1/2 the tank gravel and removed about 3 gallons of the 20 gallon tank. I replaced the water with water that had 2 drops of Prime added to it and had been sitting for 2 or 3 days. The fish seem to be acting ok but I'm worried. My daughter says that a slight spike is normal after a water change but I'd like some confirmation on that. Should I add more water? Add some Prime to the tank? Or leave it alone? Thanks for your help.

Answer
Hi Michele,
For now, leave your water alone, until you are sure the test results were good.  If you are doing 25% water changes every week, there is no reason for your tank to have ammonia.  You can also buy these small test kits, especially ammonia, and nitrites.  They are easy to use, accurate, and I feel they are always handy to have.
I don't remember if I have told you this, but when cleaning your filter, you should always rinse your sponge in water you have removed from the tank, and never under tap water.  The sponge is full of good bacteria that fish need to survive, so always rinse it in water from the tank that you have removed.  Tap water can kill the good bacteria you have in your sponge.  A sponge is good for a long time, until it is old, ragged, and falling apart.  Change your carbon once a month, and rinse it under tap water.  
Wait till tomorrow, and have your water checked again to make sure it is right.  Depending on the level of ammonia you have, if you do have, you will have to do small water changes everyday until you get it down.  If the test results are true, and the ammonia is harmful, then you will have to do another 25% water change, check it again the next day, and if ammonia is still present, then you will have to do 10% water changes everyday until it is down to zero.  This is why it would be much easier to have a test kit at home.  That way you would not have to run to the pet store to get a good reading.  
I hope that the reading was wrong, but do not take any chances.
Lynda