Sorry I have missed all this...it's been our thanksgiving weekend, and we had house guests....

I am also unfamiliar with the amquel products. I've never used an ammonia buffer. I would follow Opie's sage advice and get some more eloda densa or other like plants as soon as you can. I think you will just have to keep on top of the water changes and ride this cycle out. I'm really sorry for your losses, Sugar :( . This will work itself out, and you won't lose this tank. Sorry I'm not more help, but I don't think there's anything else you can do, and all the advice so far is most excellent (except the salt ;) )