Quick cycling question

[vigesimal]

New-to-me (bought used) tank has been up for almost 2 weeks, with absolutely no change in ammonia, nitrite or nitrate levels. Ammonia is .2, nitrite zero, nitrate 20. I find this odd, especially the nitrate. Normal?

37 gal, 3 pltaties, aquaclear 300 HOB filter

My pervious post (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56967) dealt with my high pH issue, which is still reading 8.4. Hard water and high alkalinity as well.

[mishi8]

Do you have nitrates in your tap water? Have you added any products like "Cycle"? That can account for your nitrate reading.

The lack of nitrites at this point is not unusual. If you're starting a cycle from scratch (without seeding) it will take a while for the bacteria to develop.

[mooman]

If you've got the test strips it is. I've never seen those things register anything lower than 20ppm.

[vigesimal]

mishi8 - this cycle is from scratch, nothing added other than dechlorinator.

mooman - I DO have test strips! I guess that explains why the tap water gets a nitrate reading too, come to think of it. I forgot about that.