Reef tank cycle progressing?

[Tgundontshoot]

Ok, so I recently got back into the hobby and am basically a beginner again. I got my 46 gallon bowfront set up a couple weeks ago and am currently in the cycling process. I started off with 40 lbs of dry base rock and 40 ish pounds of sand/crushed coral. I added about 12 lbs of live rock from my lfs on the 15th. I also dropped in a decent pinch of flakes on the 15th as well. I have added asmall pinch two more times including today. Below I will post my test results with dates. I just want to know if this seems normal.

17 July:
Ammonia: between 1.0 and 2.0 (hard to tell)
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

19 July:
Ammonia: 1.0
Nitrite: .5
Nitrate: .25

20 July:
Ammonia: .5
Nitrite: 1.0
Nitrate: .5

21 July:
Ammonia: .5
Nitrite: 1.0
Nitrate: .5

Are the low values due to the live rock having established bacteria? Do these results make sense with what I've mentioned. Also, I am currently using tap water, but have an RO/DI unit coming in a day or two. Yesterday I also had some brown algae form which has spread quite a bit today. Any help would be great!

 

[bertoni]

Those numbers seem fine to me. Using live rock can shorten the ammonia spike, etc, so that looks like good progress to me.

 

[Tgundontshoot]

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate the input and it helps me validate what I thought was happening. Thanks.

 

[bertoni]

You're welcome! Good luck, and I forgot:

[welcome]