Am I being impatient or did it stall?

Got a 3.5 gallon tank that I’m fishless cycling with pure ammonia. Raised it to about 2 ppm and its been stuck at .5ppm for about five days. Never had a nitrite reading. Nitrates continue to increase, they’re at about 10ppm. It’s planted with three swords and some floating plants. I used Safe Start to jump start it and it definitely worked. Temperature is 76.8. Used prime to dechlorinate and the pH is alkaline because our tap is alkaline. LED light for the plants. Just wondering if I’m doing something wrong if it is just taking its usual time. I know it’s no fast process but we went from 2ppm ammonia to .5 ppm in two days and I want to make sure I didn’t do anything to stall it.
What would happen if I added more Safe Start or Turbostart?

I think it's just a waiting game now. The fact that nitrate is increasing is a good sign that you have some of both bacteria.
Adding more Safe Start won't harm anything and you never know.

It is normal for your ammonia readings to sort of jump around, at least mine did when I first setup my tank.

I would give it more time. You could get some Anacharis to help speed up the process - they suck up ammonia like a vacuum.

essjay said:

I think it's just a waiting game now. The fact that nitrate is increasing is a good sign that you have some of both bacteria.
Adding more Safe Start won't harm anything and you never know.

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I’ve read that you can get a bacterial bloom if you add too much, but maybe if I just add a little?

PheonixKingZ said:

It is normal for your ammonia readings to sort of jump around, at least mine did when I first setup my tank.

I would give it more time. You could get some Anacharis to help speed up the process - they suck up ammonia like a vacuum.

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The anacharis is a good idea. Considering my readings, do you think it’ll be much longer before ready for fish?

SABWARNER16 said:

The anacharis is a good idea. Considering my readings, do you think it’ll be much longer before ready for fish?

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I would say maximum a week? It could be longer though. (Hope it’s soon thought I know how exciting it can be to get new fish. )

PheonixKingZ said:

I would say maximum a week? It could be longer though. (Hope it’s soon thought I know how exciting it can be to get new fish. )

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I hope so too! Thanks