Starting Over Question

[deny]

My two fish got Ick in April and died. I treated the tank (55 gal with no live rock, coral base) and it has only had hermit crabs since then. I went away and didn't want to add anything until I got back. I now want to restock. I just did 1/2 water change and tested the water.
Temp - 80
Saline 1.022
PH - 8.0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 20
Ammonia -4.0
How did the ammonia get so high when there have been no fish for 3 months?? There were some turbo snails that died but I though the hermits ate them. So obviously I need to lower the Nitrates and Ammonia.. Since there were no fish in the tank did I screw up the biological system? Did I create a new re-cycle??
What is the next step I should do?? Please help :help:
Thanks
Deny

 

[sagxman]

What type of filtration do you have?

 

[deny]

I have an aquaclear 500 and a powerhead....any suggestions?? I HOPE!!!

 

[mopar9012]

maybe the hermits made the Ammonia go up...

 

[sula]

Maybe you stirred something up when you did the water change?
I think you just need to let that ammonia cycle before you add anything else...

 

[petjunkie]

What did you treat your tank with, first of all. Then I would say it seems like you are recycling the tank if you have ammonia. I would do a lot of water changes and buffer up your ph and raise salinity to 1.025.