Am I cycled, so quick? advice

Greeting, only my second post. Newbie at all this Fishless Cycle.
Got a used set-up for Christmas - 45 Gallon, Fluval 307, Aquasky.
Ok. The person I purchased it from had shut down tank approx. 3 weeks ago.
He had tank kinda divided with black volcanic on one side and sand on other,
so he scooped out and put in two different 5 gallon buckets. There was some tanks water
in bottom of buckets.
He drained Fluval, but didn't clean. Put it sealed back up.
I just last Sunday 1/2 got tank up and running.
Did not clean, rinse, etc. Filter and Substrate. Just added Prime to water, dosed Stability per directions.
Tap Water readings: PH 7.6, Everything else 0.
Monday • added 20 drops Ammonia from Ace Hardware. Did not measure readings.
Tuesday • Added 60 drops, after a few minutes, tested Ammonia was 1.0, Nitrate 5.
Wednesday • Ammonia was .25, added 30 drops, tested = 1.0, bumped temp to 81 degrees.
Thursday • Ammonia was 0, Added 60 drops, tested = 2.0, did not measure anything else.
Friday • Ammonia was 0, PH-7.6, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20, after these readings I added 60 drops Ammonia.
Been adding 2 caps full of Stability each day.
So, am I on track?
What should I do next?
THANKS!!
Won't get to check this post, heading out on some errands. Just wanted to get this put out there before I left.

 

It sounds to me like enough of the beneficial bacteria survived in the sealed up filter and wet substrate, and your tank is ready for fish. I'd still recommend stocking slowly.

 

I think we can all agree with ProudPapa

Congratulations on getting a used tank from someone that knew how to save the cycle and to yourself for knowing not to clean anything once you got it home.

 

Wow, thought I was missing something.
thanks folks.
So, a couple questions.
Never thought it would be ready so fast, so have not got my fish plans nailed down.
I assume I keep dosing my 60 drops of ammonia each day, till I have fish
in tank?
Do I do a water change before adding fish, if so how much?
thanks again.

 

Wow, thought I was missing something.
thanks folks.
So, a couple questions.
Never thought it would be ready so fast, so have not got my fish plans nailed down.
I assume I keep dosing my 60 drops of ammonia each day, till I have fish
in tank?
Do I do a water change before adding fish, if so how much?
thanks again.

You dont have to dose each day....as you can see, that bacteria can survive for a long time.
And you have been adding more than your fish will produce.

You can change all the water you want, it won't hurt anything. Just bring your nitrate way down and add your fish.

 

Wow, thought I was missing something.
thanks folks.
So, a couple questions.
Never thought it would be ready so fast, so have not got my fish plans nailed down.
I assume I keep dosing my 60 drops of ammonia each day, till I have fish
in tank?
Do I do a water change before adding fish, if so how much?
thanks again.

I would probably keep adding the 60 drops of ammonia daily for a few more days or even up to the day before you get fish. By doing so you will know your cycle is strong and the tank is ready for its full stocking.

If it is going to be several weeks before you add fish go to adding ammonia every second or third day after the first week. If the ammonia processes through to nitrates within 24 hours each time you can be assured you have a strong colony of bacteria growing in there.

Yes, do a water change the day before you add fish. We can base the the amount of water to change on the nitrate level. It would be best to get them down to no more than 10ppm. You are not going to change out too much water. In fact, the more you change the better it will be. The very best thing you can give your water pets is fresh clean dechlorinated water.

 

Thanks everyone for info.
Great place here.