my tank is still cycling

ive had a 30 gall cycling for over a month now and for the last 2 weeks ive been getting bettween .5 and 1 ammonia readings it has never gone below .5. i have 30lbs of live sand and 20 lbs of liverock. im just wondering if this is normal?

 

I would check the expiration date on the test kit, also verify the time in which you must view the results of the test. Sometimes if you view after the recommended time you get an elevated value.

What are you nitrite and nitrate values?

With live rock I would have expected it to cycle a tad faster, but not by much.

 

the amonnia test is new both the other i checked last week and they were 0

 

Did you use all LR.

You can try ghost feeding the tank some fish food. You will probably initially see an elevated ammonia level. There may not be enough die off or biological decay to sustain the de-nitrifying bacteria.

 

i got the LR and a little crused coral from a guy who was breaking down his tank the rock came with 4 small hemit crabs that are still alive. ive only had the LR for 2 weeks but i thought it would have droped below .5 bynow.

 

i just used my last strip test dont have time to do the drops. my nitrate is 20ppm and my nitrite is 3ppm. so atleast somthing has changed;D

 

strips are like 1 step above just picking a number in your head. very innaccurate. but yes it does sound like things are starting to shift as if progresses.

 

im starting to get ditomas so i think its starting to get better.

 

You've only had the rock for 2 weeks, and ammonia for 2 weeks. You had die-off from the live rock.