1st Tank - Think I'm done cycling?

I started 2 weeks ago building a 46g FOWLR and I think it's done cycling but it seemed to go too quickly so I'm not entirely sure so maybe I could get some opinions (This site has been great so far for research).

Here are my water readings:
1.021 salinity
0 ammonia
0 nitrites
2-5 ppm nitrates
8.1 - 8.4 ph (need a better ph test)
300ish Alkalinity

I put 30lbs of cured live rock(From the LFS) in with a hang-on filter 2 weeks ago, then 5 days later I put in 1 yellowtail damsel and the little guy has been fine since(He was a little shy for a few days but has warmed up to me now). Since this is a 46gallon tank could it be that the cured live rock and damsel haven't produced enough ammonia to really create a cycle? Or could the cured live rock perhaps have the colony's of bacteria needed to complete the cycle? This is confusing because I'm detecting small amounts of nitrates which have been slightly going up over the last 2 days so everything I read points to that being the sign the cycle is completed. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

A side question too: I want to put an additional 15 lbs of cured live rock from the LFS in soon as well. Could that restart the cycle or hurt the damsel even tho the rock never really left water (transferred from LFS tank to bucket to my tank is the plan) so there shouldn't be any large amount of die off right?

 

Oh I forgot to mention also, I poured a bottle of Bio-Spira in the tank a few hours before I put the live rock in initially. So not sure if that could have helped, I was kind of skeptical of it but decided it might be worth to try.

 

Even with the added Bio, I dont think you have cycled yet, be patient, and you can add live rock anytime you want. Be patient, one of my sayings is we all want our tanks to look great NOW. you probably dont want to hear this but give it another month, be sure before you start pouring money down the drain if live stock starts to die off because you got too anxious. LoL been there and done that.

 

im in the same boat. been about 2 weeks since i started my tank. I have a 20gallon and I got 10lb of cured LR from an established tank(2 years old), 20lb base rock, 30lb dry sand, and 2 cups of live sand from different established tanks. my ammonia peaked at 8ppm, nitrite peaked at 1ppm, then did a 80% water change, and now im getting 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 10 nitrate. most call this a soft cycle.

 

your nitrates are high sit tight for a few more weeks also bring up ur specific gravity should be around 1.024 good luck maybe some ssmall CUC

 

well some cycles dont last long did ur ammonia spike and then go dwn if so ur cycle is done

 

Congrats on your new tank! We'd love to see some pics of it.
Some advice:
Nitrates are high, salinity is low (Most people keep it about 1.024-26). Slowly add a little more salt and keep being patient.
Also you will want to switch out that HOB filter and get a protein skimmer and a sump if you can. HOB filters will do more harm than help.

 

Thanks for all the advice. Yeah I'm def. going to wait probably at least 2 more weeks to see if anything changes and while waiting add another 15lbs of LR.

I really want a protein skimmer, but I don't want to buy a cheap one so I've been saving for that since its not a requirement from the get go. Probably will have one in a month or so.