looks like you never really got it up significantly.

I did a little overkill with my cycling with pure ammonia and raised it to 4.0. With the right bacteria (Fritz refrigerated -not bottled stuff) it still brought that down to 0 within 36 hours.

Your minor cycle thing could work too as long as you introduce fish really just one little fishy at a time.

(whew can you believe after all this waiting you finally are getting started! ;) )