How come I still have ammonia?

Question
QUESTION: Hello Hollie, I'd like to ask a few questions, make comments.

For just over 3 wks. now I've had a 150 gallon livestock tank set up indoors with 5 comet goldfish.  I used quite a lot of gravel from various tanks I have already plus had the floss filter inside my very mature fancy goldfish tank for 2 wks. in their gravel.  I had put this floss inside the canister filter I'm using for the 150 gallon indoor 'pond'.

I placed all 5 comets in at the same time because I figured with the help the pond had with the seeded materials and the fish are still pretty small (2"), it would be ok in such a huge setup.
I guess I was wrong.

My ammonia levels have been steadily anywhere between .5 - 1.ppm of ammonia.  I don't believe there is any nitrite levels yet.
I can't believe what's going on.  So far the fish have been ok and I haven't even been feeding them everyday like I'd like to be doing.

When is all of this going to settle to 0 levels?  In the last 2 wks. I've added some hornwort plants too but I'd probably have to spend about $50.00 in those plants just to do any kind of silent cycling.  This isn't the way I wanted it as I've always done fishless cycling.  I feel terrible for the fish.

I've done 40% water changes sometimes everyday, sometimes every other day (going by different opinions of what I should do).  I hope you can help with some good advice.

Thank you!
Paula

ANSWER: Keep up the good work, because you have the right idea.  One thing you can do however, is add a biological starter such as Prime or Cycle.  They will add the bacteria you may be lacking causing the spike and get the tank into tip top shape.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for saying "Keep up the good work" but I need to know if up to 1ppm ammonia is going to harm them in the long run.  They've been living like this for weeks unfortunately.  Also, do I keep doing the water changes every 'other' day?  I sure hope that's fine as it's a LOT of water to change but I'll do it if it's really going to actually help.
Also, I've since read differing opinions re: just how much water to change when the ammonia is at that level.  What is your opinion?

Thanks
Paula

Answer
I think 25% would be more than sufficient as 40% could be overkill.  1ppm of ammonia is an alert but not detrimental to goldfish.  However, if you had more sensitive fish such as discus, that would be a whole other matter entirely.  It should through natural cycling come down soon, especially if you decrease the amount of water changed.