Cycle Progress - Anything Else I Can Do?

[frodo11]

A brief history:
Fluval Edge 12 Gal.
Water testing: API Master Freshwater kit (expiration dates between 2015 & 2016)
Filter with Fluval Edge sponge, carbon and bio-media, sponge on end if intake tube
Dosing water changes with Prime
PH falling between 6.6 and 7.6, generally right at 7.0 about 6.4 beginning 3/13

Set up 2/11/12 ... initial dose of StressZyme then daily dose Stability for a week
2/16/12 - 4 Zebras introduced
2/16 through 2/22/12 - water readings all zero, tested every 12 hours
2/22/12 25% water change & Stability dose
2/23/12 to 2/26/12 out of town; family member fed & dosed with Stability 2/24, 2/25 & 2/26
Evening 2/26/12 - ammonia: 1.0 all other 0, 25% water change & StressZyme dose
2/27 & 2/28 ammonia: 1.0 (2 tests/day), all others 0, daily 25% water change
2/29 to 3/2/12 ammonia .5 (2 tests/day), all others 0, daily 25% water change, 3/2 StressZyme
3/3 to 3/5/12 ammonia .25 (2 tests/day), all others 0, daily 25% water change, 3/5 Stability
3/4/12 Introduced 4 Cory cats & 2 Mystery snails
3/6 & 3/7/12 ammonia .5, nitrites 0, nitrAtes >0 and <5, daily 25% water change
3/8 & 3/9/12 ammonia .25 to .5, nitrites .25, nitrAtes 0, no water changes
3/10/12 ammonia 1.0, nitrites .25, nitrAtes 0, 40% water change
3/11/12 ammonia .5, nitrites .25, nitrAtes 0, no water change
3/12 & 3/13 ammonia 1.0, nitrites .25, nitrAtes 0+, 40% water change each day, StressZyme on 3/13
3/14 & 3/15 ammonia 1.0, nitrites 0 to 1.0, nitrAtes 0+, 40% water change & StressZyme each day
3/16 & 3/17 ammonia .5, nitrites 2.0, nitrAtes 5, 40% water change & StressZyme each day
3/18 a.m. ammonia .5, nitrites 5.0, nitrAtes 10 to 20, 40% water change

One other note: reduced filter intake speed to the minimum beginning 3/13

The tank is crystal clear and the fish are lively and eating.

Anything else I can do/not do other than keep on keepin' on?

Thanks.

 

[hilly81]

A brief history:
Fluval Edge 12 Gal.
Water testing: API Master Freshwater kit (expiration dates between 2015 & 2016)
Filter with Fluval Edge sponge, carbon and bio-media, sponge on end if intake tube
Dosing water changes with Prime
PH falling between 6.6 and 7.6, generally right at 7.0 about 6.4 beginning 3/13

Set up 2/11/12 ... initial dose of StressZyme then daily dose Stability for a week
2/16/12 - 4 Zebras introduced
2/16 through 2/22/12 - water readings all zero, tested every 12 hours
2/22/12 25% water change & Stability dose
2/23/12 to 2/26/12 out of town; family member fed & dosed with Stability 2/24, 2/25 & 2/26
Evening 2/26/12 - ammonia: 1.0 all other 0, 25% water change & StressZyme dose
2/27 & 2/28 ammonia: 1.0 (2 tests/day), all others 0, daily 25% water change
2/29 to 3/2/12 ammonia .5 (2 tests/day), all others 0, daily 25% water change, 3/2 StressZyme
3/3 to 3/5/12 ammonia .25 (2 tests/day), all others 0, daily 25% water change, 3/5 Stability
3/4/12 Introduced 4 Cory cats & 2 Mystery snails
3/6 & 3/7/12 ammonia .5, nitrites 0, nitrAtes >0 and <5, daily 25% water change
3/8 & 3/9/12 ammonia .25 to .5, nitrites .25, nitrAtes 0, no water changes
3/10/12 ammonia 1.0, nitrites .25, nitrAtes 0, 40% water change
3/11/12 ammonia .5, nitrites .25, nitrAtes 0, no water change
3/12 & 3/13 ammonia 1.0, nitrites .25, nitrAtes 0+, 40% water change each day, StressZyme on 3/13
3/14 & 3/15 ammonia 1.0, nitrites 0 to 1.0, nitrAtes 0+, 40% water change & StressZyme each day
3/16 & 3/17 ammonia .5, nitrites 2.0, nitrAtes 5, 40% water change & StressZyme each day
3/18 a.m. ammonia .5, nitrites 5.0, nitrAtes 10 to 20, 40% water change

One other note: reduced filter intake speed to the minimum beginning 3/13

The tank is crystal clear and the fish are lively and eating.

Anything else I can do/not do other than keep on keepin' on?

Thanks.

Bigger than 40% waterchanges as if the Nitrites are at 5 before and you are only changing 40% then the Nitrites will still be around 3 after the change and your fish will be suffering.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Couldn't see what your water temp is..apologies if i missed it, but when cycling it is best to have the water at 30 degrees..but seeming as you are fish-in cycling (and have Corys) that is not much use to you.
You really shouldn't have added anymore fish whilst you were fish-in cycling.
Unless you are using some sort of medication, get rid of the carbon and get some more media (sponge or ceramic) in there.
"Crystal clear" water is never a sign of a healthy tank, only your water test results can prove this.

Terry.

 

[frodo11]

Temp at 78F or about 26C.

Pulling the charcoal now ... will I lose bacteria that may have grown on it? Better to wait till the cycle is complete then pull?

Thanks.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Temp at 78F or about 26C.

Pulling the charcoal now ... will I lose bacteria that may have grown on it? Better to wait till the cycle is complete then pull?

Thanks.

Very little (if any) beneficial bacteria will grow on your charcoal.

Terry.