okay i think im using the wrong water tests with my conditioner, im using xtreme water conditioner and on reading the back it says use a salicylate (indolphenol) type total ammonia test kit. for dissolved oxygen testing use either a DO meter or an indigo carmine test, well im using api water tests, this might be giving me false readings, so im going to switch to seachem prime do my water changes with prime and then see what my readings are, i think the conditioner has to do with my problem, xxxxx

What false readings do you think you are getting? What you have got to remember when using these conditioners that remove ammonia is that you will still get an ammonia reading when you test your water. The ones I am familiar with convert ammonia to ammonium, and ammonium is that non-toxic form but will still give you a reading on your test kit. You normally have to ammonium present if you have a very low pH, that is why I always recommend a low pH when keeping fish that don't require a high pH.

Anyway, I use prime so you shouldn't have any problems.