Question about cycling with LR

you are on your way it takes time I would add a bit more LR to help along the process. your nitrate should start going up but if you have algae growing you can get a false negative as algae uses the nitrates as food so it is there but it is being consumed.

When i start a new tank I start with some live sand and the second week I add some Live rock and the 3 week I add more live rock. I barley notice a cycle at all I also use cycle in week 1 and 3 this helps the bio filter get established.

Bill