Beginner help much appreciated

howdy everyone! I’m in a little bit of a stump and would love suggestions or advice.
currently trying to cycle a 75 gal for some oranda goldfish. we had an oranda goldfish who sadly passed and we left the tank alone, which was not cycled at the time.
we are now preparing for new additions so I started the process yesterday but tested the water before starting and these were my findings:

before cycling:
PH- 7.6
Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrites - 0 ppm
Nitrates - 5 ppm

finding some nitrates was confusing to me bc the tank was left alone for so long (did a 75% water change the day before to start cycling)

I dosed with ammonia anyways and may have added too much as measuring out fritz ammonia was a little tricky but it was around 3-4 ppm and tested again today after 24 hrs.

day 1

Ammonia- 3- 4? ppm
Nitrites - 0 ppm
Nitrates - 5 ppm

I’m only stumped because I had planned on started from 0 all together. Should I leave it alone and let it do its thing? do a water change to bring down ammonia? I also brought bottled bacteria, should I add that? (fritz zyme 7)
I’ve added photos of the test from today. Maybe I’m reading it wrong haha.
Thank you so much!

 

Welcome to Fishlore!

I would add the fritz since you already have it and let it do its thing. It will take awhile, like 4-6 weeks possibly.

Have you tested your tap water for nitrates?

 

Welcome to Fishlore!

I would add the fritz since you already have it and let it do its thing. It will take awhile, like 4-6 weeks possibly.

Have you tested your tap water for nitrates?

Thank you so much! I know I’m gonna love learning from this community.
and I just tested my tap and *facepalm* we do have nitrates in our tap. silly mistake on my end. I’ll add the bottle of bacteria, do I need to do anything specifically since my tap has this?

 

No, 5ppm nitrate is fine. I wouldnt worry about that. You just cant think you are cycled because you see nitrates. Check only Nitrites for a bit, every 3-4 days or so. When you start to get nitrites start checking ammonia again. When ammonia and nitrites are both zero add ammonia again. I dont think you need 4ppm though, 2 should be fine.

 

No, 5ppm nitrate is fine. I wouldnt worry about that. You just cant think you are cycled because you see nitrates. Check only Nitrites for a bit, every 3-4 days or so. When you start to get nitrites start checking ammonia again. When ammonia and nitrites are both zero add ammonia again. I dont think you need 4ppm though, 2 should be fine.

Okay, thank you so much