I would count off the cycling period from the day you added the LR.

It almost sounds like there was no bacteria available to the tank (to multiply) before that time.

It's definately a good thing you are taking your time. Keep going slow and your chance of long term success will be much higher.

I have always cycled my tanks by adding live sand from another established tank. I slowly add it and it usually only takes maximum of two weeks for the cycle to be complete. I also add live rock into the mix to get things rolling.

A lot of test kits have shelf lives. I suspect that yours is expired. How much do you feed?

well it's brand new with no livestock so =p But usually 2 pinches of food...
I usually sit there and watch them eat it and when they it all I give them a litlte more.
Do you think maybe I should not do that in this take when everything is switched out....hrmmm

well i'm going to picking up more of a clean crew as well this week. I don't have much of one in my 44 right now...

how on earth am i going to get all my snails out of there???
amanda