Tank doesn't seem to be cycling

[soccene]

I have a 10 gallon tank set up since March 10.
1 dalmation molly
1 red wag play
1 Panda Cory (several tank mates just died and I do not want to replace until I get the tank under control)
2 Julie Corys

Ammonia .50
Ph 6/7
I do not have a nitrate or nitrites test... Yes I know I will need to get one relatively soon to see what is going on in my tank.
Whisper ex20
Half aquarium rocks/half sand
2 fake plants
1 log

Sorry in advance for the long post, I have been stalking this forum for quite some time but I haven't exactly found out my issue.
I will also admit a lot of fault on some of my tank issues, so please no slamming.
I started my cycle with 4 panda Corys, 1 dalmation molly, 1 red wag platy, and 4 neon tetras. (I know now this was way too many to start a tank with). I take 95percent fault for not doing my research. Like a noob I thought I could get a tank, condition the water, and let my little guys go swimming.

Things were going well for awhile. I vacuum the gravel 2/3 times a week and do 30-50 percent water changes every other day. Mainly because I can't seem to get the ammonia levels down. A little back story, the red wag platy I got ended up having 3 babies, two weeks after I got the tank. I didn't want the babies to be eaten, so I bought another 10 gallon tank. I moved the babies to the new tank. Since the new tank was not properly cycled (brand new) I took the filter out of the other tank to put with the babies. That was on March 30. My ammonia spiked in the main tank. The max I ever measured it was 2. I test the ammonia almost daily in the tank I removed the filter from and I can't seem to get the ammonia down. I do use a water conditioner that is supposed to neutralize the ammonia, which I know is temporary. That is why I vacuum at least twice a week and do between 30/50 percent water changes every other day if not daily. I thought maybe the tank was a bit too crowded with the new filter so I moved my neon tetras to go live with the red wag platy fry. In the mean time I have lost all my panda cories except 1 in the last week. I know the tank is recycling and that is why I am doing mass water changes and vacuums. It has been almost 3 weeks since I removed that filter. So why can't I get my ammonia levels down to 0? I have read on this site and others Conflicting information on cleaning. Some say to only clean part of the subtrate and a max of 20 percent water changes and others say to clean the gravel with every water change. Which I am doing. I have cut down their feedings as well. For the last three weeks this tank gets 2 fish flakes and 1 sinking shrimp pellet cut into 2 (they are small pellets, but my molly eats them and I want my cories to be able to get some food. I cut it in half so they can at least get a bit) per day. So I guess I am asking on what my next step should be. Am I over cleaning? I should mention that I am very careful to stir my sand at least once every other day to prevent gas bubbles. I am also pretty confident that my panda cories died from the ammonia Spike from removing that filter even though I was doing fairly large water changes. I would like to save my other panda from the same fate. Again, I am so sorry for the novel I would rather give more info than less.

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[Delapool]

A couple of things to check would be:

water specs - yes, agree you need the full test kit (liquid based not strips ). Do you have the exact ph value? Below 6.5 the nitrifying bacteria slow down and below 6 they get really slow.

water used for tank changes - have you tested this to make sure no ammonia? Also check ph (let stand for 24 hrs to degas).

filter - does it have much ceramic bio-media or is it just carbon and floss?

 

[soccene]

Filter is carbon with floss. Ph reads 7. I have tested my water and it reads 0 ammonia. I did end up getting the 5 in one strips which showed my nitrite at a 3. 0 nitrate. I did a 50 percent water change and gravel vac.

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[Delapool]

Filter is carbon with floss. Ph reads 7. I have tested my water and it reads 0 ammonia. I did end up getting the 5 in one strips which showed my nitrite at a 3. 0 nitrate. I did a 50 percent water change and gravel vac.

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Off to bed lol so this is quick.

Filter not practical unless you never change carbon as bb will grow in there and when changed you lose a large bb population.

Ph good.

Nitrite second part of cycle makes sense. A pinch of sea salt will protect fish from nitrite.

Strips inaccurate, I've found they can read low for nitrite and nitrate (not sure if same strips).

 

[FudgeFish]

I think that maybe you might be vacuuming and washing out all of the healthy bacteria that gets rid of the ammonia. I agree, the strips aren't very accurate although signs are showing good. How are your platy fry doing with the tetras?

 

[kdrpeirce]

I was told not do WC until you tank cycles. WC delay the cycling process. Is this correct?

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[jglover]

I was told not do WC until you tank cycles. WC delay the cycling process. Is this correct?

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Water changes will only delay the process if you are doing a fishless cycle and not dosing the tank with an ammonia supply. Most of the bacterial growth is in the filter media first, substrate second and only a small amount in the water column. As long as you have a steady source of ammonia present in the tank, it will cycle.