The API QuickStart is undoubtedly part of the problem, maybe the only problem, with the ammonia. Never use these products in planted tanks. They are intended to function as bacteria "seeding" for filters, but with plants this is counter-productive. There has been evidence from other threads that ammonia increases with some of these do occur. The 70% water change just done should have removed some of this. I would test ammonia now and let us know the result. This test is important also to be able to compare and assess what occurs before tomorrow's test.
The Ammo Lock should not have "caused" ammonia, but here again we are adding yet another chemical to the mix, and it may have consequences. Here again, the W/C should have removed much of it. This product changes ammonia into ammonium which is relatively harmless, but both ammonia and ammonium test as "ammonia" with most test kits, certainly the API.
The Fluval Water Conditioner detoxifies chloramine, and if chloramine is present in your tap water (do they add this, as well as or in place of chlorine?) it separates out and ammonia will show up in tests. This conditioner also does things I don't like, such as "Formulated with pure herbal extracts, it also reduces fish stress and protects scales and fins from minor scrapes and cuts," and "Coats delicate scales and fins to protect against minor abrasions." I'd like to know what the herbal extracts are, they won't say; some products use aloe vera which can cause damage to fish gills over time. And this obsession with "coating fish" is nonsense. Switch to the API Tap Water Conditioner when you can, it is better.
On the filter, again, just keep it clean. It is not part of this issue, or at any rate, I don't see how it could be.
