Ick! Spike In Ammonia! Need Help!!

[phishman1]

I recently had a outbreak of Ick, found spores on the black cycle damsel, and the clown, also clown had a "velvet" fungus on one side. I took the clown out , RO freshwater dipped for 2 minutes and placed in a 5 gallon tank for a few days to monitor. Then I treated the tank ONCE with something called "Organicure", which contains copper 1.25% and formaldehyde 17% and is "safe" for crabs and shrimp.
Next day, I noticed a marked rise in ammonia, did a 40% change immediately and double checked last night, still a tad high, now I have noticed that I don't see my turbo snails on sides like I did before. Did the medication kill them, and if that is the case, can that cause the spike in ammonia? I assume it can. If that is the case, obviously I remove the snails, discard them, boil them to keep the shells, and do what percentage of water change? 40%?
One final question, I dont' have room on my tank, 35 gallon acrylic for both a Prizm skimmer, which I have on the tank now, or the 330 bio wheel, which of the two should I have in operation for the tank. Tank has beenup approximately 7 to 8 weeks with good success till recently.
thanks for all the good advice to date,
Jim

 

[beth]

"Organicure", which contains copper 1.25% and formaldehyde 17% and is "safe" for crabs and shrimp.....NOT!
Formaldehyde and copper is not at all safe for crabs, snails, shimp...or any other invert. Yes, if your snails died, then that could well be the cause of the ammonia spike. Do you see snail shells in the tank with no mobility? Be careful not to kill off a snail that is alive by removing them for the tank.
What kind of tank do you have? FO with a few inverts? FOWLR?
You can lower you pH a little until the ammonia situation is under control, and, yes, do water changes.
Are the skimmer and bio wheel all you have for filtration and water movement in your tank??