redoing tank screw up!!

[Voorhee]

anyhow.. I added crushed coral to existing substrate.. and mixed it all together stirring up all the sand dust and stuff off bottom.. then i proceeded to empty water... (filter was off..) I left about 10% of the water.. then i added all my rock.. and then started refilling after adding prime to water in tank.. so i filled it up with 77degree water.. then pluged in heater and filter.. let it stand for about 5 hours.. then added 3 eye droppers of ammonia.. which i did when i first cycled tank..

Well heres the kicker.. My ammonia is still between 1.5-3ppm.. on my tetra labrott test kit.. and i added ammonia last friday.. still reads the same..

did i do something wrong.. this tank had fish in it till the friday.. 7 bloodfin 3 coryies 1 pleco. just wondring what happened..

Thanks all..

sorry for no real paragraphs lol..

 

[maestro]

how long was the tank set up with the fish in?

I cant understand why you tried to recycle an existing mature tank?

 

[Voorhee]

this is what i mean lol..

My tank was few months old.. and i was converting it to african from planted.. i removed all plants/wood/fish.. sold them.. then add Crushed coral substrate mixed with existing substrate.. then added ton of rocks..

also newver emptied filter..

it stayed full the whole time..

i added ammonia so the bacteria wouldn't die off..