Hey don't be sorry! That is why forums like this exist! The ammonia will come back a lot, especially if the filters were washed out, but it sounds like you are keeping on top of it, which is great.
WC are now hard as well since I tested my tap, it's got 2ppm that's ridiculous. So now for water change I have to add double the dose of AmQuel just to put the added water at 0ppm. I do it upstairs as well with the 55g.