How do I know if the tank has cycled

Sorry I'm sure this question is posted often but couldn't find a thread for it.

I currently have a 37 gallon tank that has been set up for 2.5 weeks. However all my tests have been fairly consistant.

Water temp 79
Ammonia .05ppm (this has recently rose from less than .02 that I had for the first 2 weeks)
GH 180
KH 180
PH 7.5
NO2 0
NO3 20

About a week and a half ago I put TSS in but it had no efect on the water readings. I did a water change a few days ago as the bottom was getting quite gross. I currently have 7 African Cichlids who before the water change were flashing but they have seemed to stop or atleast minimized flashing after the change. Is my tank close to being cycled? Should I hit it again with TSS after a big water change? How do I know when its cycled?

I love these fish but am a complete newbie when it comes to aquariums.
Thank you for the help

 

Hiya

You'll know when your tank is cycled when Ammonia and Nitrite are 0, and the Nitrate is less than 40 (usually less than 40. Different water sources bring up different results or cycled tanks), and they are stable.

 

A tank is cycled when you have 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrites and more nitrates than your tap water contains.

When using SafeStart, you need to follow the directions very closely. If you already have a tank with fish, for SafeStart to have the best chance of success, you need to do enough water changes to get the ammonia levels as close to zero as possible. Then wait 24 hours after your use of any ammonia detoxing water conditioner (i.e. Prime, Amquel+, AmmoLock etc.). Then do nothing but feed your fish for the next 14 days. No water changes, adding chemical etc. At day 14 test and if you have 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrites and more nitrates than your tap water contains, it worked.

 

Thank you both for the help

 

If your fish are flashing then it's possible they've got ich from being stressed from the ammonia. I'd watch them closely for the next couple days and see if you can see any small white spots on there body/fins- if they do, it's probably ich.