I have the filter running and it seems to be moving water at a good rate. Yes the lfs verified twice with 2 vials each time and no I'm not using any water conditioner just dosed with prime to try and bring it down alittle and I'll try nitrates and nitrites but it's working fine on my other tank
I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish with Prime.
1. ammonia exists as free ammonia (toxic to fish) and ammonium (nontoxic) in aqueous solution. Free ammonia + ammonium = total ammonia
2. Some additives such as Prime form complexes with ammonia rendering the free ammonia nontoxic. With Prime, total ammonia = ammonia (toxic)+complexed ammonia (nontoxic)+ammonium (nontoxic). The purpose of Prime is to convert most, if not all, of toxic ammonia to non-toxic forms. The total ammonia level, however, does not change with the addition of Prime.
3. Your API kit measures total ammonia. You should not expect to see a decrement in your test kit, nor should you expect lower total ammonia, with the addition of Prime. Prime has zero effect of total ammonia.
4. The only way to decrease total ammonia is through removal-either by water changes or by something "eating" it, like nitrifying bacteria (which you are trying to grow by giving nitrogenous food-i.e. ammonia)
So again, your use of Prime serves an unclear purpose at this time, and likely wasting money. Fine if you don't care, but my original advice remains: stop messing with the tank and enjoy what remains of the summer. Check back in a couple weeks.
