It's been about five days, which is waaaay too early for the tank to have cycled yet. I used API Quick Start, liberally. (It claims you can add fish immediately, but I'm really leary of that.) The tank is now planted with mature plants, but not too many. Gary the snail has been in there since last weekend and seems to be doing ok. There was a residue of algae on the filter case, even though I'd scrubbed it, that we can see his "mow track" in now. There is also existing algae on the plant leaves, which I assume he'll go after if he gets hungry enough. We also put in a sinking wafer for him, but he didn't seem interested and it just disintegrated.
Using the API liquid chemicals test kit, the tank is showing:
.5 ammonia
no nitrites
5.0 nitrates
The pH is at the top end of the pH test colors, so I tried the "high pH" test and it is looking like 7.4. I've added some more cataba leaves, and we have another bit of driftwood to add. It's my understanding that the higher the pH, the more dangerous ammonia is to a fish, so hopefully the cataba and wood will bring it down a little bit.
I'm thinking the tank probably hasn't actually cycled yet, or the ammonia would be lower. It's possible that the nitrates are just generically in the water as it comes out of the tap. (I'll check that - I have a glass of water sitting now that I'm letting degass.) I have not put any Prime in the tank since Sunday (5 days ago).
I put in a dash of Betta food and also some more Quick Start. Other than giving it time, and feeding it a bit every day, there's not a lot else I can be doing, right? It'll cycle when it cycles.